Youth Education
I’ve been a Youth Education officer for a little over a year now and it is the most fulfilling thing I have ever done. If I ever feel down or depressed all I need to do is go into one of my local schools and read a story to a group of five year olds. All of a sudden I am surrounded by kids all wanting to give me a hug or a high five, and my problems just melt away.
I recently spent a week at camp with three senior classes from a local primary school. I had been teaching these classes for six weeks prior to the camp about decision making, assertiveness, responsibility and esteem. The kids all call me “Constable Andy” and during the week the kids got to know me as a person as well as a police officer. On the trip back to school at the end of the week the kids at the back of the bus were conducting a take-off of “New Zealand Idol”, that they called “Bus Idol”. The songs and the quality of singing coming from the back of the bus were varied, but as we pulled into the school the kids all started to sing, “There’s only one Constable Andy, there’s only one Constable Andy!” and as we pulled into the school gates the kids shouted out, “Three cheers for Constable Andy!” What an incredible way to finish the week.
I love being a positive male role model for these kids. I try to live my life and act in a way that kids could look up to. I really do have the best job in the world.