Dare to blaze your own path and have the courage to succeed was a message former Silver Fern Joline Henry had to athletes at the Wanganui Secondary School Sports Awards last night.
The now retired netballer was guest speaker at the awards and in many cases she was preaching tothe choir with many of the nominated and eventual award-winning athletes doing just as she suggested.
However, Henry said many athletes often didn't appreciate the joys of the journey until it was over.
"I am a former Wanganui Collegiate girl, but I can remember wanting to be a Silver Fern from about the age of four," Henry recalled.
"I was brought up by my grandparents and my grandmother was a bit of a netballer herself. She went out next day and bought me a bright pink ball. From that day we went outside and practised. I was the clumsiest child and often ended up running inside crying with a blood nose."
But it was her perseverance and dedication to become the best that drove her to succeed.
"Dare to step outside the box to achieve and push yourself - it's well worth it, I promise you," she said.
Henry, who has three university degrees, is now a stay at home mum with a 2-year-old son and her high school teaching partner living in Hamilton. She said the pair were looking at career opportunities overseas that had surfaced through her sporting achievements.
