“Before I came to TRAX, I had a little bit of trouble with my previous college, and I wasn ’t in a good place. At first coming here I was nervous but as the years progressed I got comfortable. It felt like I was welcomed, and people do actually care about me, about my health and mental well being.”
Hayden has grown in confidence and maturity, “I've faced some challenges and obstacles and I've learned to overcome them.” He no longer responds to negative attention, “I've matured a lot. I know if there's someone out there that wants my attention in a bad way, I used to just get angry at them but now I understand and I can walk off.”
Hayden has passed his Level One in Catering and Hospitality, and also enjoys land based studies, where money from the WISH partnership has funded seeds and planters to enable students to gain hands-on experience of growing produce. Through the programme, Hayden has developed a connection with nature and a real aptitude for horticulture. “I've basically embraced nature. It gives me a sense of calmness. I grow my vegetables and I' m doing it at home. They're looking very good. They've grown a lot.”
He has turned this interest into a business, which he sees future potential to develop into farming. “I collect the seeds and sell the vegetables for money. It's like a business, I do have potential in a business career....I' m thinking of having a farming business, I' m waiting for an old farmer to retire so I can take his place and then make everything new there.”
Hayden is graduating from TRAX this summer and starting an internship to build life skills to enable him to live independently. His growth in confidence and the positive relationships he has built while there are celebrated by staff and family, “ He's able to hold conversations with other young people. And it' s been amazing to watch him flourish...it's just amazing to watch how he has grown into such a lovely young man.”
