Winning attitude earns award

12 December 2009

Photo: JASON OXENHAM
AWARD-WINNING ATTITUDE: Robin Vinod received a William Wallace award for his leadership skills

A lifetime of beating the odds has resulted in a prestigious leadership award for a young Mt Albert Grammar student. 

Robin Vinod, 16, proved it doesn't matter where you come from as he stepped on stage in Wellington to accept his William Wallace Award.    

Now in their fourth year, the awards, run by Child Youth and Family, support young people in care to fulfil their potential through leadership, vocational or tertiary training.  

Robin, who has boarded at the school for the last four years, received a $2000 tertiary scholarship which he plans to put towards a course in social work.  

"It's because of all the people who have influenced my life," he says.

"I want to do something like that."  

After immigrating to New Zealand at the age of four with his mother and sisters from Bombay, India, he has lived between homes and various foster care families for much of his life.  

In year 9 the Dingwall Trust, a child and family support service, gave Robin a scholarship to go to Mt Albert Grammar and stay there as a boarder.  

Although his start to life at the school was troubled, being suspended twice in year 10, he says joining C3, the Christian City Church, has changed all that and he is now a youth leader there.  

Robin says the school has become like a surrogate home and he has thrived, becoming a boarding school prefect.

He says in the last year he has discovered a love of creative subjects such as painting and animation, which he hopes to continue with after school.

School house director Chris Metcalfe says Robin has worked hard to overcome a difficult situation.

"He's had some huge adverse circumstances to cope with. He's focused on what he wants to achieve.

"He hasn't let anything get him down," Mr Metcalfe says.