From league to lights, Jahree Kee-Sue is taking a new course in life.
The 17-year-old was among this year’s WITT certificate students who took part in a graduation ceremony this week.
For the past year, Jahree has been a member of the Taranaki Rugby League Education Academy and has been working towards his NCEA Level 2.
Next year, the young man will be doing a Level 3 Certificate in Electrical Skills, with the hope of landing an apprenticeship at the end of the one-year course.
“I put my radio in my car not too long ago. My dad showed me a little bit of how to do it.”
The league academy, also called Pokaitahi Mana Tangata, has been ideal for Jahree. “I didn’t really like school – it wasn’t me. I found it hard to sit there and concentrate with all those fellas in class that were mucking around.”
At WITT, he found himself with like-minded students and tutors who treated the teenagers like equals.
“BJ (Bobby Hetet), our tutor, he’s got a class of 20, but he will still come to you, one on one, and still have enough time for the rest of the boys.”
As well as studying, the students also trained for league and had a pre-season fitness schedule to do over the summer before starting at WITT.
“We had to go down to do beach sessions and down to the park (Vogeltown) to do fitness.”
The No 13 loose forward says the WITT league team did well against other academy teams, but says his own club team had a great season.
Jahree is a member of the Bell Block Marist Dragons premiere side, which this year won both the Lile Shield in Taranaki and the Western Alliance rugby league competition.
At WITT, Jahree had other successes.
“I’m able to sit there and listen now instead of pretending I’m listening,” he says.
With his new focus on education, Jahree has decided to keep studying at the polytech.
“I need to get a trade behind me before I go out and get a job,” he says.