Limitless leader receives award
At 20, April McLennan has already devoted two years to showing about 500 students their opportunities are limitless.
The Christchurch woman was the only South Islander to receive the 2017 Minister for Youth’s International Leadership Award. She was one of four in total.
McLennan, who was home schooled for her entire youth, is the founder and chairwoman of Limitless, an organisation helping high school students realise their passions.
‘‘We work 80,000 hours in our lives . . . [Limitless] equips young people with the self-awareness and confidence to excel in work they’re passionate about.’’
She works full-time on Limitless. Last week, McLennan got a call from the Ministry of Youth Development, offering her the award.
‘‘It came completely out of the blue.’’
As part of the award, the recipients will travel to China in September. Youth Minister Nikki Kaye said the four would go to Shenzhen and Shanghai to meet with Chinese entrepreneurs.
‘‘I’m sure they will grow personally and come home brimming with ideas for new business and social initiatives,’’ she said.
Limitless finished its 2017 conference in Christchurch yesterday. About 350 year 10 students from 27 schools in Canterbury attended.
Entrepreneurs from around New Zealand spoke to students at the conference.
Lincoln High School assistant principal Kylie Wissel, who attended the conference, said student demand for the programme was high.
‘‘Fifty-three of them put their hands up; we had to go on to a waiting list because we were only allowed to bring 26,’’ she said.
‘‘This sort of thing appeals to year 10s because they are in that transition stage between people or society expecting them to know what they want to do but not necessarily having any clue, because they’re not going to have cookie cutter jobs like 20 years ago.’’
Grace Houston, a year 11 student from Burnside High, attended the inaugural Limitless conference last year.
‘‘It completely changed my perspective on the world. It encouraged everyone to be themselves and not to give up on their dreams,’’ she said.
Houston is part of the Christchurch Youth Movement, which a group of students started after attending last year’s Limitless conference.
The movement aims to connect high school students and help them find things to do or community activities to participate in throughout the city.
Last year, the Christchurch Youth Movement spent a day at the Christchurch City Council, designing a central city space where youth could socialise.
‘‘I do hope that eventually I can help change people’s lives,’’ Houston said.
"It came completely out of the blue." Limitless founder April McLennan