College – Issue 43

seen or heard about,” he says. “It keeps you in a sort of family environment in the House and our Housemaster, Mr (Mike) Field, has been great about keeping me in check throughout my time at College. “I came to Christ’s College from Medbury School. My parents thought College would be the best place to be and I have been happy here. I have a good school crowd and enjoy being part of the club, as a school. I feel connected with my coaches and teammates.” AJ adds that fellow athlete Joseph Nash has also helped his journey as “we push each other” to succeed and the pair “tend to dominate school competitions”. On the academic side, AJ enjoys Mathematics and appreciates the guidance of Matt Cortesi through Physical Education and football while Teacher-in-Charge – Accounting Jennifer Thomas “has been very supportive with reference letters and everything else” and Executive Principal Garth Wynne “has been one of my big supporters along this whole journey”. Aside from school and sport, he plays the keyboard at church. For his post-College life, AJ is “weighing up a few pathways, including the United States option – a sports scholarship – and Australia as well”. “There are many good universities and great competition overseas. I want to reach that top level, representing my country.” Reflecting on his first year at Christ’s College, AJ says that “I would tell myself to devote my

from Zimbabwe when I was aged four. My parents wanted to study here. Dad is a chemical engineer and Mum works with New Zealand Police on the Integrated Safety Response to Family Harm and is also a guest lecturer at the University of Canterbury. I have a younger sister and an older brother, who has been a big part

of getting me places. My mother tells me she was a national runner in Zimbabwe and that I get my athletics ability from her.” A member of Julius House, AJ also appreciates the “amazing” school environment for underpinning his success. “The House system is different from any other school I have

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MOTIVATION

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