EUROBODALLA students spent Friday morning in the last of five sessions of the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience.
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The program was launched at the Batemans Bay and Bega University of Wollongong campuses at start of the year.
The 50 local indigenous high school students who took part in the program are aiming toward tertiary education with the help of mentoring from Batemans Bay university students.
Three sporting stars spoke at the final session to inspire students to reach for their goals.
Netball player Melina Saunders spoke about her experiences growing up.
“School was not a priority for me until I got into high school,” she said.
“I then realised school was a vehicle to exposing me to opportunities.”
Footballer Cleveland McGhie was an AIME student at Wollongong and said it helped him a lot.
“When I look back to four years ago I never imagined I would be training with the (Canberra) Raiders,” he said.
Body boarder Glen Thurston spoke about how he overcame growing up with a bad group of people.
“I started hanging with my brothers and body boarding a lot,” he said.
“By the time I was 17 and finished school I was in Hawaii with other professionals in the sport.
“Anyone can dream and achieve anything they want.”
AIME Wollongong centre manager Brenden Newton said the program had so far gained a great response.
“We have seen a 100 per cent difference in these kids,” he said.
“They feel different and come here to have fun.”
Mr Newton said the goal was to triple the program in Batemans Bay next year.
“It’s all about these kids here today going home and telling their friends and cousin that AIME is fun and encouraging them to come alone,” he said.
“Our national goal is to get to 10,000 kids by 2018. Currently we have 3500.”
He said the final day was about recognising the hard work the students had put in throughout the year.
“It is to show that we value them and they are amazing people and can dream big and achieve those dreams,” Mr Newton said.
“AIME is all about supporting them to do that.
“We had some emotional sessions throughout the year.”