Student Leader Reflections

Despite interruptions from covid-19, my year has been full of exciting opportunities, highlights and new friendships. I’ve solidified existing friendships with my old peer mentor class, and through sporting and poutama I have made new friendships with new year nines, and first XV members. Which is what I think school is about, bonding with those around you. I’ve had an array of amazing opportunities to take hold of this year, whether it is captaining the first XV, being a Tātāriki member or competing at the Evolocity race day. All of these fantastic highlights were made possible through this amazing school.

I hope the college continues to be progressive in its march towards bi-culturism and continues to

connect people and form long lasting friendships with both teacher and student. Creating a wide spread, diverse culture where everyone is connected to one another, and students take pride in attending Otumoetai college. Next year I hope to complete a level 4 in creativity, which will hopefully connect me with like minded individuals in the world

of fashion, to then one day start my own business. Logan Blair - Head Boy 2020 has been an interesting year to say the least, and whilst it wasn´t the usual learning experience over the lockdown period, I am so thankful to have spent the majority of the year on campus at school this year, allowing me to communicate face-toface with staff and students around my learning and leadership responsibilities. The school ball was a major highlight of the year, and being able to have our committees’

visions come to light was very inspiring and rewarding for the many hours we dedicated to little technicalities. It was

also an event that let our year 12´s and 13´s return to normality for a short period instead of the stressing about world situations, and for that relief I am thankful. I believe that we as a cohort

have overcome many adversities this year and have grown into young adults whose unorthodox circumstances have encouraged us to decide on future plans and find our passions. Next year I am planning to study First Year Medicine at the University of Auckland, leading onto a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. I have been well equipped to face the next journey in my life through the teachings of the staff here at Otumoetai College. I implore the class of 2021 to take all they can from this wonderful school.

I can say with confidence that I have pushed myself to the absolute max this year. Grasping opportunities left and right, pushing myself to excel at the highest level academically and giving my 100% back to this college. What a year it has been. Year 13 is a small period in our lives where we have the ability to take responsibility and hence enjoy freedom, whilst still living at home where life is for the most part is easiest.

I have truly enjoyed 2020. I have built lifelong connections with my peers, established a great legacy in the food in schools lunch programme. Alongside this, I’ve had the privilege of handling key highlights in our school’s calendar, that being the school ball and the creation of both the Year 13

shirt and Leavers hoodie.

I plan to embark on my journey by attending the University of Auckland, studying a BCom/Bsc conjoint degree in 2021 majoring in Economics, Finance and Statistics.

Jarrod Ong – Student Leader / BOT Student Rep My year, like most of my peers, was compromised heavily by COVID-19 and took away many of the opportunities and hopes I had for my final year of high school. As a student leader I gained a greater understanding of my school and the people around me. I understood that responsibility, time-management, selfaccountability, and teamwork with your peers is vital. It is also true that delegating and consulting people is a part of leadership, however having relationships with those who surround you, being culturally and spiritually aware of each individual and being vulnerable enough to reveal your own weakness in order to grow with others, I have learnt, is most important. I believe that this is what makes a difference between managing people and being a leader. It is not to work above everyone, but to work alongside each other. In my future I am aspiring to complete a Bachelor’s of Education, specializing in Huarahi Māori. Having teachers gifted enough to pass on their matauranga throughout different aspects of education, was uplifting, giving me the desire to pass on the taonga that being Ngai Māori in education is. ¨Ehara taku toa i toa takitahi, Engari he toa takitini.¨ Tēnā koutou katoa.

Kaahukurauenuku Rakaupai - Student Leader

While turbulent, 2020 has been a successful year for me so far. My 1st XI hockey team came first in our tournament, which was my first gold medal in all my time at Otumoetai College for hockey. It was amazing for us year 13s to finish College hockey on a high. In terms of academics, I have achieved my goals for this year, endorsing the year with excellence and I am on track to receive placings in a few of my classes. As the co-head of the sports committee, I hope the leaders next year take advantage of the opportunities next year as hopefully covid-19 will have disappeared. There were many events that we would have loved to run throughout the year, but were cancelled, so I hope that the leaders are proactive, and revive the great sporting culture within the school. Furthermore, next year I will be studying a double Law and Commerce degree majoring in finance at the University of Canterbury. I am excited for this next chapter in my life and the opportunities it will bring me. Jane Tingey - Student Leader Kia ora readers. My name is Liam Turner and I have had the privilege of serving as the co-leader of Otumoetai colleges Hauora committee. Looking back on this year I have realised two things: 1) Man it went by super fast! 2) Although full of challenges it was also full of growth.

My hope for the college in light of our current new norms is this; that we never stop growing. Challenges come and they go, it’s what we learn from them that can

change us into better students and better people.

Next year I will be working both at my Church and Waimarino so I can gather my thoughts on who I want to be and what I feel is the right thing to do while making money in the meantime. It will be an exciting year full of different experiences Liam Turner - Student Leader