Ryeleigh

My name is Ryeleigh Carmichael I am 17 and , I identify as a lesbian. I attended avonside girls high school where  there was little to no representation of queer identity until my last two years there. we had a pride club however it was very small because of this it made it very hard for me to accept who I was. This little representation caused me to feel socially isolated and uncomfortable which lead to many mental health problems. In 2024 a new group was founded within my school called Youthline Maanaki connectors, I had never had the opportunity for a role like this before so when it came up I jumped on the opportunity. It was through this group where my passion for helping younger rainbow students was ignited. Helping to foster a strong supportive environment was my goal so that all of my younger peers had a safe place to go to so that they would never have to feel the same way I did. I was never really sure what I wanted to do, I knew I loved writing and all things English so when I saw my school was winning a short story competition I entered not really thinking anything of it, the story had to be about past pupils or teachers or our school and their legacy. I chose to write about a teacher who left in my final year, a teacher who at every corner pushed me to succeed a teacher who accepted me for who I was. In writing this story I realised that I wanted to be a teacher.  The type of teacher who listens and creates a safe space for all.

This is why I’ll be heading into my first year at the university of Canterbury studying a Bachelors of Arts majoring in English and psychology so that I can become a high school teacher so that I can make meaningful change in the system and the way that lgbtqia+ members are treated.