It took the combined efforts of a Catholic priest and one of Australia's most prestigious private schools to turn Craig Ashby's hatred for schoolwork into a passionate pursuit.

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His journey towards a career as an educator has even seen Craig break bread with one of the worlds most powerful and influential leaders, Pope Benedict XVI.

"He just said that education is you know the way forward and it is very important for the Indigenous people of this country," Craig says.

By the age of 15, Craig was illiterate, full of despair and clutching a one way ticket to a life of unemployment, welfare dependency and drug abuse.

Video Journalist Allan Clarke spent time with Craig to talk about growing up in Walgett and how Craig's nemesis became his saviour.

TRANSCRIPT

KG: It took the combined efforts of a Catholic priest and one of Australia's most prestigious private schools to turn Craig Ashby's hatred for schoolwork into a passionate pursuit. His journey towards a career as a teacher has even seen Craig break bread with one of the world's most powerful and influential leaders.

Video journalist Allan Clarke caught up with Craig in Sydney.

Reporter: Craig Ashby hated school, instead, choosing to spend his days roaming the streets of his New South Wales outback home town of Walgett. But, ironically, Craig's nemesis turned out to be his saviour.

Craig Ashby: You didn't have respect for yourself, your family, your elders and, you know, I just rarely saw the inside of a classroom and, if I did, I sat up the back and didn't listen.

Reporter: After his mother died when he was two, Craig was raised by his grandmother. By the age of 15 he was illiterate, full of despair and clutching a one-way ticket to life of unemployment, welfare dependency and drug abuse. But amidst the red dirt came a turning point. After being nominated by a local priest for an Aboriginal scholarship at St Joseph's College, Craig moved to Sydney. It was a powerful and life-changing experience. Craig has now decided to take on a career in the classroom.

Craig Ashby: I didn't even know I wanted to become a teacher until I came here and I've seen first-hand the
power of education, how much it can influence a kid and change a whole community through educating one person and that one person reaching out.

Reporter: Studying education at Sydney University, Craig still finds the city a little overwhelming.

Craig Ashby: You've got to come in, and speak a different language, you've got to learn a different style, dress different, you've got to act differently and also take up more responsibility to be here at this university.

Reporter: He has also become an ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, mentoring young Aboriginal students.

Andrew Penfold, Indigenous Education Foundation: And if you speak to somebody like Craig, he lives and
breathes Aboriginal advancement seven days a week, 24 hours a day. I mean, this is deeply within his soul and this is his journey, this is his vocation.

Reporter: Craig captured the attention of one of the most important men in the world - Pope Benedict XVI. The 21-year-old was among 12 people from around the world selected to lunch with his Holy Father during World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney. The aspiring teacher practised some of his university studies on the pontiff, giving him a lesson in Aboriginal affairs.

Andrew Penfold: Having made that journey to being there with one of the great world leaders, having an opportunity to talk about the things that are important to him and the things that are important to Aboriginal communities, it's just a remarkable opportunity.

Craig Ashby: He just said that education is the way forward and it is very important for the Indigenous people of this country.

Reporter: Craig says helping just one Indigenous child turn his or her life around will make all his efforts worthwhile.

Craig Ashby: Be proud of who you are, be proud of your people and never forget who you are and where you come from.

Source: SBS