‘Underdog’ nature drives Kiwi desire to give a second chance
Convicted murderer turned life coach and psychologist, Dr Paul Wood says he is always amazed at how willing Kiwis are to lend a helping hand and give people like former inmate Mark Cropp a second chance.
“One of the things I have found in my own experience is just how humbling Kiwis are in respect of being really prepared to provide opportunities to those who demonstrate they are keen on turning their lives around.”
Wood said he was so glad to hear Cropp, the young man who has been struggling to find a job because of his extensive prison facial tattoo, has been inundated with job offers.
Cropp has also accepted a free offer to remove his giant tattoo, which says “DEVAST8”.
“It’s such a great, humbling and humanitarian thing that’s been done in terms of all these offers towards this guy,” Wood said.
Wood spent 11 years behind bars after murdering a drug dealer in 1995, when he was just 18. He then became the first person in New Zealand to complete an undergraduate and Master’s degree while in prison. He was also the first person to begin a Doctorate while in jail.
Wood believed the community’s response to Cropp would give other inmates hope that they, too, can make a life for themselves on the outside.
He said Kiwis’ generosity partly came from the fact that we are an “underdog nation”.
“We are a small community.
“I don’t think we have had the luxury of being as unforgiving as larger nations.”
However, he believed the desire to want to give people a chance to better themselves was not just a Kiwi thing but “a really human thing”.
“I just hope this guy really does live up to deserving all of the generosity that is coming his way. I hope he is able to make good choices.”
It’s such a great, humbling and humanitarian thing that’s been done.