Meet the roving reporters

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning."
- Albert Einstein.

Meet Jayke, an individual, friendly guy from Mildura in Northern Victoria. He’s been living independently since he was 15 and provides a different outlook on teenage life. He’s had a rough few years, but now has his own place and is content with the direction his life is heading.

After Jayke completes year 12 in 2009, he’s going to take a year off and earn some money and do as much travelling as possible. Trying to get an understanding of the world and its affairs is very important to him.

A keen reader and student of literature, broadening his mind is what Jayke lives for. The ultimate gift is that of understanding, and Jayke is determined to receive it. Empathy and understanding is what the world lacks and he intends to do his best to change this.

Jayke is a realist. He looks at life with a great deal of practicality. He can come across as cold at times, but shows compassion where it is wholly deserved. Morality reigns supreme and nothing is valid without justification. However, Jayke doesn’t allow his great grip on reality translate into drudgery. Every day is a new day for this lively and animated young man, and he takes everything as it comes.

There are no limits for Jayke. He feels that he can achieve anything he puts his mind to. This is attributed to his experiences in Papua New Guinea. He hiked the legendary Kokoda Track for eight gruelling days and stayed a week with a native family. The Track and its significance to Australia’s history impacted Jayke.

The sheer difficulty and pain he experienced  along the track allowed him to feel that he can achieve anything in the future. Experiencing the way people live in a third world country and actually living with them opened his eyes to the privilege that is his everyday life. These two weeks will continue to influence Jayke for the remainder of his days.

Ever since he was young, Jayke has dreamed of travelling overseas and Papua New Guinea has only strengthened this dream. His whole life is now aimed towards a career within foreign affairs, aid distribution and charity. He intends to become something. Something significant whether to many people or to few. As Saint Augustine said, "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page."

Jayke will achieve his goals, all of them in one way or another. The longest journey commences with a single step and the first step is always the most difficult.

Jayke will always take that first step.