I'm turning 30 and thankful for it.

The teen years are so crucial when it comes to the path each person takes in life. But experiences from the past can appear like monsters that cause even more wounds, and confusion from the current reality can be overwhelming. It's a stressful time! Anxiety, depression and suicide among NZ teens is far too common and they need help. What happens to them has a reach far beyond what they think.

The mission of Discovery for Teens is 'to equip people with self-awareness, study-skills and life-skills. Discovery provides an appreciation of choices and consequences so that, with confidence and courage, people can make the right decisions to confidently be all they can.'

The program doesn't focus solely on at risk, or high-achievers, but provides benefits to all backgrounds - and I think, whether they have been getting in trouble with the law, or whether they are doing well at school, you never know what internal struggles they are experiencing, and all young people would benefit from an environment where they are encouraged to discover themselves, to come out of their shell a bit, build healthy friendships, learn skills and have fun doing so.

For me, in primary school I had good relationships with my teachers and though I was pretty shy and scared of unfamiliar situations, I had support and enough confidence to try my hardest and take up some leadership roles. But after there was an upheaval at home, and I was bullied, and then I had no connection to the teachers when I went to high school, my motivation and confidence ran away and I didn't take up opportunities that, now I look back, could have been really good for me to try.

I didn't dye my hair black, wear heavy eyeliner, or get multiple piercings, but I was pretty 'emo on the inside', I had a lot of negativity bottled up and didn't have a very positive outlook on the world.

However, right at the end of high school in year 13, we went on a leadership camp. We were put in teams and had to work together to solve all sorts of physical and strategic challenges. It was difficult at times - piggy backing someone bigger than you while going through knee high mud isn't easy - but it was really fun and I felt I almost, ALMOST would have spoken up more to make suggestions if the camp was just a bit longer.

Thinking of myself and my peers, if we went through a program like Discovery for Teens it could have made a big difference in our ability to overcome our insecurities, change our mentality and navigate our way through our teens into adulthood.

This is why, for my 30th birthday, when I feel like I'm solidly in adult zone, that I want to support a cause for the youth, so they can also reach their 30th birthday and be thankful for it.