Introducing our Student Leaders 2022 Azmi Hirota - Mentoring Committee Leader Although I was a shy person in year 9, I pushed myself to join new groups and attend activities even if I didn’t know anyone. Over time this became a habit and now I am comfortable giving most new opportunities a try. I’ve learned that no one is naturally comfortable at all times. Pushing myself outside my comfort zone has helped me develop my confidence and leadership skills. I credit my teachers and Ms Woodward for encouraging and supporting me during my time at Ōtūmoetai College. My goal for 2022 is to be accepted to the Engineering Department at Canterbury University. I am super excited to live in Christchurch, my favourite city in New Zealand. Outside of school I enjoy playing badminton for the Bay of Plenty U19 REPs team. I’ve been playing badminton since year 7 at OIS. The one week national tournament in Palmerston North is the highlight of my year. I love hanging out with my badminton friends and playing against some of the best badminton players in the country. Even though I don’t drink coffee, I’m passionate about making great coffee and latte art at my family’s cafe. I hope to get a job as a barista in Christchurch when I attend uni. Dianne Galorio - Whare Leader - Manunui My favourite subject is Media Studies and English as it enables you to incorporate theories within a text and encourages you to think creatively. The most important lesson I have learned at college is to try things out!! Go for leadership opportunities and put yourself out there; you’re only at college once! My goal is to leave this place where students can be encouraged positively and feel they are in a safe environment to grow and succeed.
Ella Crichton - Publicity Committee Leader My favourite subject this year is soft materials, I love that it gives me the opportunity to do hands-on work based on real situations and that it allows me to improve on a useful skill. The most important lesson I’ve learnt while at Ōtūmoetai College is that it’s more important to like yourself than it is to be liked by other people. When you’re surrounded by as many people as you are in the college it’s impossible for everyone you encounter to like who you are, but if you’re good with who you are at the end of the day and you’re always trying to improve, that’s enough. My main goal for this year is to genuinely do my best in everything I do. Emily Wahab - Creative Arts Committee Leader My favourite subjects are calculus and chemistry and my favourite extracurricular is dance which I am also lucky enough to take as a subject as well as leading one of the school’s competition dance troupes. The most important lesson I have learnt from my time at Ōtūmoetai College is how important it is to maintain a balance of school, social, and extracurricular activities. Academically, my goal for the year is to gain NCEA Level 3 endorsed with Excellence. As a leader of the Creative Arts Committee my goal is to get as many students as possible involved in the creative arts, especially the juniors to help them feel more integrated into our school community.
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