In this time, I have finished school and started university where I am studying law in Wellington. I am now beginning my third year.

These have been some of the best years of my life with a great mix of work and fun.    

In my final year of school, Shared Histories gave me an opportunity outside of the normal routine and the experience of a lifetime. It is encouraging to see that the programme is still going so strong.

It was great to meet 2016 Young Ambassador Thomas Swinburn and hear about the most recent Shared Histories trip at the reception of the French Secretary-General, another invitation I didn’t expect but gladly took thanks to Shared Histories.    

My Shared Histories experience has helped me greatly over the last three years, in public speaking, socialising and general understanding of the world around me. Connections are always coming up in relation to being a Young Ambassador, whether its meeting the new ambassadors, remaining in touch with the great friends who I made on the trip, or hearing stories from places such as Le Quesnoy and all other memorial events that have been happening over the last three years.    

Furthermore, it is great to see what all the other Young Ambassadors are doing. To name a few, Caitlin studying Art in Auckland, Emma travelling in France and I also went to see Ailish perform in a play last year. I also stumbled in to Harriet at a festival a few weeks ago.

It is great to have a shared memory with all these different people doing very different things around the country and beyond. These relationships and connections was what Shared Histories was about and it is great.