The Story Behind Second Chance Academy—From Gitta
I was the annoying kid in school who didn't have to try very hard and always seemed to get great grades anyway. I always thought I was just "naturally smart". It wasn't until I'd graduated university that I realised how wrong that was...
I wasn't naturally smart in high school. I was just lucky. Lucky for a couple of reasons:
- My sisters were significantly older than me so I had to be able to keep up with conversations seven years ahead of my age group, just to be included in conversation with my own family!
- My family was comfortably middle class and my parents could afford to prioritise my education over everything else. They didn't need me to earn money to support the family. Instead of working non stop at a fast food recent every day after school, I was sat at the kitchen table doing my homework - because I could afford to!
- My parents didn't just make education a priority, they made it a joint experience for all of us. Whenever we didn't understand something at school, had a big speech coming up or needed to practice for a test - every member of my family pitched in. So by the time I got to high school, I had already heard my sisters talk about, practice or ask for help with just about everything I was expected to do in class. None of it was actually new to me!
I wasn't "naturally smart." There was nothing natural about it! I'd just heard it all before!
Mission:
We cut the nonsense, teach what matters, and back our learners as they build the future they deserve
Unlock Your Future Today!It wasn’t until someone I loved very much found themselves locked out of their own future—because they lacked the skills I took for granted—that I finally decided I had to do something.
One of my favourite people in the world wanted to change the course of his life and study law at university. But he’d dropped out of high school. He didn’t know how to apply, and he didn’t have the qualifications he needed. Everywhere he turned, he hit roadblocks.
When I showed up to help, I didn’t wave a magic wand or pull strings behind the scenes. All I did was share the skills in my toolbox—skills I hadn’t even realised not everyone had. The foundation skills that set up the rest of your life.
It took time, but soon he found out exactly which qualifications he needed, earned them, and now? He’s at university, studying law, and kicking ass.
Plenty of people doubted he could do it. He did it anyway.
The greatest part was that he didn’t need me for long. A few skills up his sleeve and he was running free on his own.
And it made me wonder: what about everyone else?
What about the people who made a few poor decisions at sixteen, missed out on vital skills, and have spent the rest of their lives paying for it—just because no one showed them the way out?
And so...Second Chance Academy was born. To unlock the doors to the futures of those brave enough to go after it!
