"Seek the treasure that you value most dearly, if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain."

This Whakatauki means a lot to me and has served as my taonga since I began my path to becoming a kaiako. The words resonate with me because they emphasise the significance of setting goals and pursuing one's destiny, and I find that setting goals for myself is what helps me move forward and focus on what's important to me. Perseverance is also discussed, which is the refusal to allow obstacles to stand in your way while fighting to achieve your goals, and this perseverance has been a big part in my life which I have had to apply in all situations since I was a little girl. In addition to the words, not only does this whakatauki ground me, but it also defines me as the person I am now and the person I desire to be as I continue my learning journey; it also guides me on the influence I want to have on the tamariki of our future. I want to make a difference in our tamariki's life, and I wish to achieve this through being a kaiako.