Kia Ora! I’m Grace!

Growing up in New Zealand – Aotearoa – I understood early that humility ought to be a core value. With humility being so important, members of society will often ‘chop down’ each other to ensure no one grows into a level of arrogance. Whether this ‘chopping down’ is intentional or not, the impact feels very real to individuals. It prevents us from chasing our dreams full speed.

“There’s this thing in New Zealand called Tall Poppy Syndrome, where if you stand out, if you want to do anything too big or you dress weird, people give you shit and try to cut you down.”

KJ Apa, News Hub, 2021

When I moved to the US, I was initially shocked at the high levels of enthusiasm for self advocacy and pride. It was quite refreshing! Albeit slowly, I came to appreciate the way American’s would hype each other and themselves up.

*disclaimer* I am very aware that Americans, like any population, can also be brutal and ruthless to one another.

My fellow kiwis could benefit from this positive spin. Successful stories offer everyone something. We can learn from their journey and leverage that insight to propel ourselves toward our own respective ambitions. Successful stories or moments are constantly taking place – whether that be peers or highly-regarded distant persons.

The Podcast

My goal with this series is to learn from legendary people and delve into their experiences with Tall Poppy Syndrome. Each conversation aims to address the importance of mental health, support systems, and engaging with the process. I have a strong interest in continual growth and hope to extend the invite to anyone keen to join me as I seek out connections.