When Play Sparks Confidence: A Story That Stays With Us

“At the end of the day, as I packed up, they called me back inside. Their gift? A personal haka—just for me. I was speechless.”

Some days remind us why creativity matters—and this was one of them.

I arrived at a school, set up our stations, and the bell rang. But a group of students stayed outside playing ball. When they finally came in, they were reprimanded for being late. Fair enough, I thought, rules are rules—but I’ll admit, I felt a flicker of worry about how they might behave during the day – will they engage in the brick creativity or disengage, disrupt, or disappear altogether?

Then came the first challenge: “Build what you want to see in the future for your school.”
Those same students came alive. Their idea? A massive outdoor rugby stadium. They didn’t just start building—they poured their passion into it. When the bell rang for morning tea, they asked if they could keep going. Of course, I said yes. For 40 minutes, they worked as a team, focused and determined, and they finished something incredible.

The rest of the day? Respectful, engaged, and enthusiastic. “Yes, Miss. Hi, Miss.” They tackled every challenge with energy and pride.

At the end of the day, as I packed up, they called me back inside. Their gift? A personal haka—just for me. I was speechless. My heart was full of joy…and a little sadness. Joy at their gratitude and passion. Sadness that these boys were struggling to fit into the school routine. But hopeful—because that day, creativity gave them confidence. It gave them a voice. 

I think of these students often and hope that they are succeeding personally, growing in their confidence, and know that they have so much worth because they are truly incredible.

This is what House of Bricks is about.
We don’t just build with bricks. We build opportunities for students to shine—especially those who feel unseen. Because sometimes, all it takes is the right opportunity to unlock potential.