Big year for teen ambassador

Arianna Cudby is winding down after a busy year. Photo / Ben Fraser

Rotorua teen Arianna Cudby is looking forward to some well deserved downtime this holiday season after a busy year as an anti-suicide youth ambassador.

Arianna found herself the centre of attention earlier this year when she won a national Change Maker award for her song, E Rere Atu, about losing her cousin to suicide in 2011.

Hearing her song, comedian and television personality Mike King invited Arianna to tour with him, singing her song and talking to young people about her experience.

Arianna said after the year she'd had, it was time for a break.

"We are going down to Tokomaru beach for Christmas so it will be good to get away and relax. This year my best friend Ashleigh is also coming down so it will be great to hang out with her as well."

She said over the last year she had discovered a lot of new things about herself.

"I've had some really wonderful experiences this year and they have taught me so much about being a voice for young people and using your experiences to help others.

"While it has been rewarding, next year I want to focus on school and get good grades for NCEA Level 2."

Among her achievements this year, Arianna was the Te Arawa Rangatahi award recipient, won the Manatoa Community award and received acknowledgments from Maori Party leader Te Ururoa Flavell and Rotorua MP Todd McClay.

While balancing her school work, Arianna was also the Pink Shirt Day ambassador, took part in Smokefreerockquest, was the keynote speaker at the Te Arawa Tangata youth programme Rangatahi Hononga, participated in the Key to Life Charitable Trust 90-day challenge and became the Rotorua White Ribbon event youth ambassador.

Arianna said her goals next year were to pass Year 12 and play more sports.

"I will get back into singing slowly but I want to do other things as well."

She said she learned this year that a little bit of effort could do a lot for other people.

"I have been super busy this year but a lot of the things I have done were small in comparison to the impact they could have had on other people. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that the little things you do can go a long way."