Leila completed two TRACTION programs in 2018 and 2019 while she was in Grade 8 and Grade 9 at Glenala SHS.

Leila admits she wasn't the best student in Grade 8 and 9 and started not liking school and disengaging. A teacher from school selected her for the program if she promised to attend school for the remainder of the week. Leila described how she loved the program and started going to school every day.

Leila recalls how patient and understanding the mentors were. They would explain expectations and consequences and knew how to connect with the students and bring everyone out of their shell in order to relax, open up and have fun. Leila explained how the biggest problems for lots of kids is related to just sitting in the classroom but for TRACTION, being in a different environment and learning by doing was a game changer.

“We had to learn time management, responsibility, and to take ownership. The method of how things were taught was just spot on. TRACTION really shifted my mindset and I discovered that I actually did really like school, especially science because it involved the hands on learning elements like TRACTION did. TRACTION helped break me out of a bad habit of missing school , the more I missed the harder school became, I wasn't understanding things. TRACTION helped me become more confident in asking for help and that then helped me feel better about asking for help from teachers at school. I am grateful that I changed my mindset from Yr 9, TRACTION definitely helped me to change that, I was on the way to dropping out of school but now I can proudly say, I am the first in family to graduate from Yr. 12.”

Leila also explained how TRACTION gave her a taste of public speaking and leadership and in Yr. 12 this led to her becoming one of the school’s Indigenous leaders. Having now successfully finished Yr. 12, Leila is looking forward to further study through TAFE and plans to use this as a pathway to achieve her dream of studying Marine Biology at University.

Leila – Love of Learning

Riley’s Story