Josef Shadwell, former Hutt Valley High School head boy, First XV halfback and member of the First XI Cricket in 2013, a parliamentary intern for Ginny Andersen in 2018, and currently Communications Coordinator at Massey University at the Joint Centre for Disaster Research, featured as our guest speaker this week at our online Zoom meeting ( Petone Rotary Club).
Josef was our Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) candidate and talked about the leadership skills he gained at our District 9940 RYLA. event earlier in January this year.
He talked to us about some of the skills he gained from speakers such as Wendy Betteridge and former Race Relations Commissioner, Gregory Fortuin. Some highlights were learning about being a selfless leader and that it's okay to come second and to celebrate the success of others. Josef also enjoyed participating in a challenge with Good Bitches Baking, a visit to parliament, raft building and a high ropes course. Josef felt that the RYLA event instilled confidence in himself and gave him a clear sense of his leadership abilities. He also felt that it was an inspirational environment being surrounded by other young community leaders.