They were amongst 11 individuals to be commended at the Mansfield Rotary Courage Awards after being nominated for overcoming adversity to succeed against the odds.
Now in its 34th year, the event on Tuesday 11 March was hosted at Portland College, Mansfield, in front of the award-winners’ proud families, teachers and many special guests.
Those in attendance heard moving tributes about the nominees, who were congratulated by the mayor of Mansfield, Andy Abrahams; the president of Mansfield Rotary, Rotn Phil Lyons; and special guest, Mansfield Paralympic star Charlotte Henshaw.
Each recipient demonstrated the message that whatever is thrown your way, you can do things, you can succeed, and you can achieve. It might be overcoming anxieties, living with serious illnesses, coping with an accident or incident, or even simply raising a smile.
Dylan and Maisie, who are both 19, and the other winners received engraved plaques from the Rotary president and civic citations from the mayor.
Dylan Staley
Dylan was commended for demonstrating special qualities as he successfully turns his life around.
During his two years at the college, he has gained significantly higher grades than at previous schools and his attitude to learning is now extremely positive.
The teenager is studying on the Level 2 Intermediate CIMSPA Sport and PA Practitioner Coaching course, having progressed from Level 1.
Programme area leader Scott Corah, who nominated Dylan, said it was important to recognise that he had demonstrated both honesty and humility as he overcomes issues created by his past.
Dylan previously had a tough time in his schooling and admitted his attitude towards education and those who tried to support him became aggressive.
But as the young person has matured, he has reflected on his past and believes those behavioural issues were a direct result of extreme childhood trauma as he grew up, and being exposed to troubling situations.
Now Dylan is making great progress at the college and is inspirational to his peers and those he works with.
Scott said: “To see his enthusiasm when teaching younger children is overwhelming, most recently voluntarily bringing in his Mansfield Harriers clothing to support our sports hall athletics event.
“Dylan remains humble, wanting to learn. To see him acknowledge his mistakes of the past, where he became aggressive at the thought of having to read, to now articulating his work in a variety of creative ways is a delight to see.
“Dylan is truly an exceptional student.”
It is all a contrast to his difficult time growing up, when Dylan found himself video gaming a lot and living a sedentary lifestyle.
However, as he matured, his love for being in the outdoors, Canadian rock band Nickelback, and admiration towards his father grew immensely, which was directly reflected in Dylan’s more positive approach towards education and better grades.
He now manages his emotions by listening to music, talking to those closest to him and using his time to discover ways to become healthier, while also enjoying competing for Mansfield Harriers as a sprinter.
In class, he was nominated by his peers for student of the term, an accolade given to the individual who best reflects exceeding standards and creating a supportive learning environment.
In the future Dylan would like to work in a primary school as a support worker, and to start his own sports coaching company one day.
Maisie Wright
Maisie was recognised for the selfless way she provides support to her family.
The teenager has had to grow up fast as she helps her mum care for her siblings – but she never complains, and her family mean everything to her and she would do anything for them.
Maisie’s siblings have a number of complex learning difficulties and she supports her mum with this on a daily basis at their home, even though it means she often attends college sessions having had very little sleep and already a challenging morning.
For example, she often puts her younger brother on the bus to go to his specialist provision and this is not without a battle, as Maisie will describe at times!
Maisie and mum agree that she has taken on responsibility that many people her age would not have done. She is not annoyed or resentful of this, but thinks of it more as her duty.
Despite all this, she has a good attendance record and is always ready to start her studies with a smile.
Maisie, who is on the GCSE English and maths BOOST programme at the college, agrees that English is not something she finds easy.
English lead Claire Sowray, who nominated her, explained: “Maisie has taken the course a number of times and still comes back ready to take on the challenge. She has a never-give-up attitude.
“Maisie will often ask for papers to complete at home and brings them back for feedback.
“She desperately wants to pass the course and move on to the next chapter of her life – which will include remaining at home to support her mum and ensure her siblings get the best in life.”
Maisie readily admits that she hides behind her loud personality, but she has a heart of gold and is the mother figure of her study group.
Claire added: “She really wants to help and support others in her altruistic ways.
“When I look back to my own teenage years, I certainly would not be able to do what Maisie does on a daily basis – so I only have admiration for her.
“In the face of adversity, Maisie continues to flourish and turns up to college with a smile every day.
“She is massively deserving of this nomination because she does not know that what she does is so wonderful. For her, it is the norm.”
In college, Maisie enjoys expressing herself in her English creative writing studies. One day she would like to be a teaching assistant in a school because she would like to help others with their learning and be supportive.
Paying tribute to the award-winners, Rotary president Phil Lyons said: “Thirty-four years ago the then president of Mansfield Rotary, Rotn Mike Neville, used this definition at the very first Courage Awards. Successive presidents have been unable to better it:
‘Courage is often described as the ability to conquer fear or despair.
‘But courage is not only showing bravery in the face of danger, more often courage is the day-to-day determination and hard work of dealing with, adjusting to, and hopefully overcoming, the obstacles and harsh realities that life may present.
‘It is a quality of mind, enabling one to face that hardship with resolution – a resolution with power and spirit.’
Click here to see Dylan on his sport and coaching course and click here to see Maisie in her English studies.