I grew up in Northcote and later Takapuna, Auckland, during the 70s and 80s. My early years were shaped by community, personal loss, and a quiet determination to challenge low expectations. My dad was the pool manager at the Takapuna Municipal Swimming Pool, and my mum was dedicated to volunteering. She taught swimming at my primary school for years before working with people with disabilities, which eventually became her lifelong business, Creative Abilities. She always called disabilities “creative abilities,” and looking back, I see how this shaped my belief that everyone has potential, no matter their circumstances.
When my baby brother died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at just three months old, it had a deep impact on me. At ten years old, I withdrew at school and lost interest in learning. A teacher even told my mum they suspected I had an intellectual disability. Career counsellors doubted I could handle university and suggested I take an easier path. But my mum never questioned what I was capable of. She always believed I could do anything I set my mind to. One of her favourite sayings was, “If it weren’t for the rocks in the stream, the river would have no song.”
Years later, I wonder what that career counsellor would think now. Today, I am Dr. Louise Schofield – a health entrepreneur, a mum of three boys, and CEO of PREKURE, a company working to shift healthcare towards prevention and lifestyle change rather than relying solely on medication. A good life is one where you wake up with a sense of purpose. If that’s not where you are right now, maybe it’s time to start making changes.
