There’s something truly special about the moment a child realises they’ve achieved something they once thought was impossible. For one of our students, that moment came when he finally rode a bike without training wheels.
He had only ever ridden a bike with the reassuring clunk of training wheels keeping him steady. Riding without them seemed scary—something for other children to do.
I don't want to do this. It's too hard. I need training wheels
Then he met Bike Cath from Bike Taupō. With her warm encouragement and calm guidance, she made him feel brave enough to try.
It was scary but I gave it a go and I did it
It didn’t happen right away. There were plenty of wobbles, false starts, and hesitant pushes. Bike Cath wouldn’t give up, and neither would he. Slowly, his feet found the pedals, his hands gripped the handlebars just right, and before he knew it, he was gliding forward—all on his own.
Look Mrs Berger, I can ride a bike all by myself
The look on his face said it all: a mixture of pride, excitement, and sheer disbelief. From that moment, his confidence soared. He didn’t just learn to ride a bike—he learned that he could overcome challenges with perseverance and support.
The power of success isn’t just in mastering a new skill; it’s in building self-belief. Now, that once-cautious rider speeds around the playground with a grin from ear to ear, calling out to his friends to watch him go.
