Leaders are often made, not simply born.  The team at National Young Leaders Day (NYLD)are dedicated to sparking the leadership potential that’s inside every young person through practical, inspirational events and leadership resources.

The NYLD are the largest and longest running leadership event for primary and intermediate school students. These large scale annual events aim to develop student leadership. Since 2001, more than 135,000 students have been empowered to fulfill their dreams and become great leaders at a National Young Leaders Day in Aotearoa.

The objectives of NYLD are

• Inspiration

• Connection

• Student empowerment

• Promoting positivity

• Motivation

• Education

Te Rapa Student Councillors attended the National Young Leaders Day. The theme for the day was ‘Lean into Fear’.  All the guest speakers shared how this has been real in their lives. The need to show resilience in the many challenges they have been faced with, as well as in the setbacks or tough times they experienced.  The speakers inspired our students to be ready to take on challenges and continue to develop as leaders of the future...leaning into their fear.

The speakers this year included:

• William Pike

• Lola Fisher

• Graci Kim

• Riley Elliot

• Borderline

 15 Key Messages:

1. Reframe fear and nerves into positive energy

Turn fear into fascination, don't listen to fear, and take nerves and turn them into excitement.

2. Step out of your comfort zone

To achieve or experience anything extraordinary, or to navigate challenges and change successfully, you must be prepared to leave your comfort zone.

3. Face fear directly

Being brave doesn't mean you're fearless; true leadership and growth come from leaning into fear, facing it, and taking action anyway.

4. Redefine failure

Failing is just part of the process, not the final outcome; you only truly fail when you stop trying.

5. Persistence is key
   Never give up, because every champion was once a beginner who refused to quit.

6. Focus on progress, not perfection
   Growth is a journey, and steady progress matters far more than being perfect.

7. Small actions create big results
   Take small steps to make a big difference, and remember that big confidence is built through little moments of connection.

8. Adopt an adventurous mindset
   View exploration not just as going outdoors, but as an ongoing way of life and a tool for learning.

9. Choose optimism every day
   Maintain a positive outlook by choosing to believe that every day is a good day.

10. Embrace hard challenges
    Growth comes when you actively choose to "do hard stuff" rather than taking the easy path.

11. See potential everywhere
    Adopt a mindset that sees no limits, only opportunities waiting to be taken.

12. Empower young leaders
    Recognise that young people aren't just the future; they are already actively shaping the present.

13. Build a strong support team
    Leadership isn't done alone; every leader needs good, supportive people around them.

14. Own your own story
    Take accountability for your journey because you get to decide the story people tell about you.

15. Take personal responsibility and mentor others
    Realise that "the someone" needed to make a change is you, and share your wisdom by being a mentor to others.