The path you walk has already been decided.
Like the stars in the sky and the dust on the earth,
Remember that you are a child of Ranginui and Papatūānuku.
Born a warrior,
You are Tūmatauenga.
Let the knowledge of the way your tūpuna fought their battles shape your mind and body for war.
Your very existence is an everyday fight against colonialism.
You are winning.
A descendant of a deity capable enough to endure all weather conditions,
You are Tāwhirimātea,
the blood coursing through your veins has experienced all four seasons,
Not even the greatest of storms can make your feet tremble.
A cosmological miracle destined to bring light into this world.
You are Tāne,
So challenge the narrative, wholeheartedly and unapologetically,
If you find yourself in the wrong,
Know that there is power in your mistakes, but even greater power in your learning.
The inextricable connection you share with Tangaroa
has existed long before your tūpuna navigated
Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa,
A child of the sea,
find comfort in knowing that water makes up more than half of your very anatomy.
This energy flows with a myriad of characteristics for you to source on,
Be calm, be present, and trust yourself.
And when you are questioned of your youth,
Understand that even as an unborn child,
Ruaumoko possesses all power to move mountains,
And so do you.