Shadrina was part bored and part curious when she decided to join a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) programme at REACH Youth Powerhouse in October 2020 with two of her friends. Her teacher had informed her of the programme, and her interest was certainly piqued. 

Fast forward to 2021 – she’s become a regular in the programme. Apart from MMA, she’s also being guided for her personal development through coaching at REACH Youth. Through these sessions, she has learned more about setting SMART goals to achieve her set targets, as well as various coping techniques to apply when faced with stress. Additionally, she generally enjoys having insightful conversations with matured adults who are positive influences on her during these sessions.  

Shadrina has found that she has gained more confidence and gets excited when she gets to spar with her teammates. She likes that she gets to make new friends from the community and learn new things from the coach and her buddies. One strength that she was observed to have developed was her ability to show empathy and care to her friends, both in school and at REACH.