North Melbourne’s community arm, The Huddle, has launched an innovative new program, 'True North'.
The concept is an interactive online tool designed to assist youth to find their internal compass and help them discover who they are.
True North features the club’s sporting stars, all sharing their personal stories of self-discovery, while encouraging others to do the same.
In its launch episode, North defender, Jasper Pittard speaks openly about the importance of compassion.
“I was brought up in my family to always be wary of other people and their feelings and trying to pick up when people are feeling up or down,” Pittard said.
“For me it’s really important to be aware of other people in the world and what they’re going through, and showing that you care. And it also just takes your mind of yourself as well so that's pretty important to me.”
For Pittard, it’s about understanding different views and opinions.
“You’re not always going to agree with people and certainly there’s some things I don’t agree with," he said.
“But just trying to understand why they think like that and just because you think a certain way, doesn’t mean it’s the right or wrong way, they’re just different.
“I think being in a footy club has allowed me to really work on collaborating with people and you’re not to going to be able to collaborate with the same type of people all the time; you want to be with your mates and like-minded people, but sometimes you’re just not going to be and you've still got to make that work.
“We’re all trying to work towards a common goal at the footy club and that’s a premiership, so sometimes you’re going to have to work with people that your values might not align, but how do you find common ground?
“I think it’s been beneficial for myself to be in an environment like the AFL to learn those kind of things.”
Pittard said offering support to others is an important part of who he is.
“I think helping other people, I get a real buzz out of that, working with other people, understanding their challenges and then trying to make them feel good about themselves is something I really enjoy as well,” he added.
“My parents always taught me to, whenever there was someone you’d seen left out or picked on or anything, be the one to get around them.
“There have been times I’ve done that and felt good about it and times that I haven’t and I’ve always wondered ‘what was it like for them?’, or circumstantial things led me away from that situation or I never saw that person again. I’ve wondered if I had stepped in and just asked them how they were, would they have felt better?
“I’ve felt like the times where I have been the one to kind of go, 'I’ll check in with that person or introduce myself to that person', generally its been a positive experience.”
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE TRUE NORTH PORTAL
