"WELL, Ngahi," my new acquaintance replied, "the good thing is that this decision you are making appears to be a win-win situation for you.
"Either option has a very good outcome. In fact, do you think you could turn this into an 'and' decision rather than an 'either/or' decision?"
It was a moonlit evening on Whangamata Beach. I was 20 and had a very important decision to make. I had gone to see my grandparents to talk about it, but they were not arriving at their bach until the next day so I thought I would take a walk along the beach and get some thinking done. During my walk I met an elderly gentleman who used to be a captain of ships, so I sailed my decision past him (excuse the pun).
"Well, sir, I explained, I have to decide whether I accept an invitation to go to Massey University on a Tu Tangata scholarship to complete a business studies degree which will be fully funded, including sponsors who will provide holiday employment, or do I accept an invitation from the managing director of LD Nathans to become a trainee manager in one of their Woolworths stores."
My new acquaintance asked me a few more questions before asking if I could postpone the Tu Tangata Scholarship until after the trainee manager's role. I replied that I did not think so as the selection process had been rigorous and they only offered places to 16 from around the country.
