As part of her Dare to Dream programme, Dame Sophie Pascoe spoke to the school’s year 12 and 13 students, covering a variety of topics ranging from her career and success in swimming to her fears, mental health struggles, goals and life as a disabled woman.
As a result of an accident involving a ride-on lawnmower when she was 2, Pascoe’s left leg was amputated below the knee.
In a swimming career of more than 20 years she has become New Zealand’s most recognisable and successful Paralympian: she has represented New Zealand at four Summer Paralympic Games, winning a total of 11 gold, seven silver and one bronze medal, and is a multiple world champion in para swimming.
Dame Sophie said her goal with the programme was to give young girls, specifically, a programme she would have loved to have at school herself at that age.
"I hope I was able to inspire at least one of them, that they can pass it on and use their own differences and uniqueness to empower others.
"I’m wanting to leave a lasting legacy that I’m not just remembered as Sophie Pascoe the swimmer but that I’m Sophie Pascoe an influencer, the pull for people whether they be disabled people or the wider community.
She wanted "to help them realise and make sure they know they are enough" and "help people gain that self-confidence to dare to dream and achieve those dreams".
She said it was great to have been able to visit schools in South Canterbury for the first time with the programme.
"It was my first presentation back since having a baby. I was doing this last year and that was the first year of the programme.
"I couldn’t have asked for a better crowd. Going in to this I was like I’m glad we started with Timaru because they are good South Islanders who will be forgiving if I’m a bit rusty.
"It was just great. There were good questions at the end so they were obviously very engaged.
"I’m excited to be back on the circuit; we try to do two schools in every town and we try to do a new city or township every time we go and speak.
"Timaru Girls’ actually won a Facebook competition so they nominated themselves."
She also visited Geraldine High School on Tuesday afternoon.
The programme is supported by Westpac and marketing manager Georgia Ellis said it was proud to have Dame Sophie as an ambassador.
"Being able to bring her into communities like Timaru and Geraldine is really important.
"I think she has a really amazing story to share and we’re proud to be a platform that can help her share it."
Timaru Girls’ High School principal Deb Hales said it was amazing to have Dame Sophie visit and speak to the year 12 and 13 students.
"Her message was so authentic which is what I liked about it. She kept relating it back to life stories but also popping in her successes with swimming.
"It’s really good for the girls to get a range of messages; it’s fantastic and we are really grateful to Westpac for the competition. One of the parents nominated us and we won it.
"It’s a hard act these days to hold a crowd of teenagers for an hour and she did because of the variety of things she had to say."
