Bullying pain motivates success
Ian Alindada admits he was a problem child who questioned himself from a young age.
But instead of letting his insecurities wear him down, he used his high energy and relentless drive to confront his demons and succeed.
Just 18 months ago the young Filipino immigrant was thrust into an alien environment, a Kiwi catholic school, and it was a case of either sink or swim.
Not long after enrolling in Masterton’s Chanel College during term two last year he scored one of the lowest in his year group on the Australian English exam; now he is dux.
His teachers say it is Alindada’s voracious thirst for knowledge and drive to improve himself that is the key to his success.
English head Claire Hills said the 18-year-old was an extraordinary student who would not quit until he fully under- stood. ‘‘He is skilled at self management, has a firm work ethic but also consistently creative, takes risks and is always looking at how to improve.’’
Sometimes he would stay for hours after class with teachers asking them to explain concepts he couldn’t grasp.
‘‘He doesn’t have a lazy gene in his body,’’ Hills said.
Maths teacher Hamlet Muller has been teaching for 30 years and said he had rarely seen a student with such dedication and enthusiasm for learning.
‘‘He’s a superstar and strives for nothing but the best. He is not only talented, but he has a lot of energy to put into his work.’’
Before coming to live with his mother in New Zealand he was living with his grandmother in provincial Philippines.
His dad left when he was aged 3 but his mother Maria was determined that he do well.
‘‘I was bad at maths when I was a kid, but my mum became strict with my studies. My mum taught me that life is not always about play. Work on something and keep improving.’’
Alindada admits he was bullied in school in his home country, leaving him wondering why he was such a target. What was different about him?
The pain of those memories inspired him to work hard and keep on course towards his goals.
‘‘Every time that I am down or feel like giving up I ask myself, ‘why are you trying to do this in the first place?’,’’
His mother was proud of what he had achieved.
‘‘She said to me ‘We’ve been through a lot. Even without your dad, look what you have done’,’’ Alindada said.
Even though he was aiming to be dux, at school prizegiving he wasn’t sure he had done enough. When his name was called he said the feeling was ‘‘indescribable’’.
Next year he intends to go Canterbury University where he wants to become a civil engineer to learn how to design stadiums.