A trip to the snow changed David’s life
Of all the stories from our Alumni campaign, few illustrate the power of public education better than David Chahine’s. Ben Worsley reports.
22 August 2024
By his own admission, David Chahine’s path to success has been a bumpy one, but at 27 years of age he has reason to celebrate.
“I just made my first million dollars!” David said.
David started a glass repair business straight out of school and after years of building a clientele across western Sydney, business is booming.
“It makes me feel proud of myself, it makes me think that anything is possible. I now realise that if you put your head down, work hard and do it with all your heart, dreams come true,” he said.
Schooling did not come easy for David.
He attended eight different schools and was constantly in trouble.
“I couldn’t sit still in class, I was always active, I couldn’t do my work,” he said.
“People used to tell me I would only end up being a garbage collector, but coming here to the Waratah Centre changed everything for me. It showed me I do have a chance and taught me to behave in a different way.”
The Waratah Centre is a School for Specific Purposes in Telopea, dedicated to helping students with behavioural and emotional disorders.
Principal Greg Fuchs remembers David arriving as a 13-year-old.
“David was this bright big ball of energy,” he said.
“He came in with a smile on his face every day, but he was cheeky, he was disobedient, he was oppositional, refused to do his schoolwork in the beginning, refused to sit down at his desk. But you know, this was all part of his journey.”
Mr Fuchs introduced a reward system for students at the Waratah Centre – to let them know what can be experienced and enjoyed in life if they work hard.
“When students start with us here, they’re normally at their lowest point. So, it’s about finding that ‘it’ moment – giving them the opportunity to find what can motivate them to succeed in life,” he said.
The ‘it’ moment for David was a trip to the snow, which literally changed his life.
“Greg promised us that if we behaved for three months, he would take us to the snow. And that kept me on track, trying to do my homework, trying to concentrate on my schoolwork,” David said.
“I actually looked forward to doing the schoolwork because I was so excited for the snow trip. I never imagined going to the snow in my wildest dreams.”
From then on, David was a changed young man and started on a path he never dreamed of.
He recently visited the Waratah Centre to catch up with his old principal and share his success story with some current students.
“It feels fantastic being back. I’ve got some great memories, and I’m hoping the kids here will see my story, work hard, ignore what people say, and believe in themselves,” he said.
“I’ve been there, I know what these kids are going through, I know what they’re feeling but I want them to know that they are normal, and anything is possible in life.”
Greg Fuchs could not be prouder.
“It gives you goosebumps,” he said.
“Seeing David’s success and seeing him come back to the school in his fancy car, brings a smile to my face because we were part of that journey, and we had a lasting effect on him and what he’s become.”
That sentiment is not lost on David.
“I’m so thankful for this school and my principal Greg. They changed my life for the better,” he said.
- News
- Alumni