LEADERSHIP The Head Prefect’s Prize-giving Speech
you’ll encounter more than enough of those people throughout your lives. What I mean is that you can never truly appreciate the beauty of your surroundings and love those around you if you can’t genuinely appreciate and love yourself. I can attest to this with my experience in my role this year and as a College student over the past three years. While it hasn’t always been the easiest to believe in myself, the support and confidence I’ve gained from others has been invaluable in helping me become the person I am today and I will forever be grateful for their contributions. First, I’d like to thank Mr Matt Cortesi and Mr Keri Campbell for their guidance and wisdom, my fellow Year 13s, who have been through their journeys alongside me and with whom I have found many lifelong friends, and my Prefects, who have fulfilled their duties admirably, showing up on even the
harshest mornings for our 7.45am meetings, leading by example around the school, and excelling in their respective committees and Houses with their innovative ideas. To my Deputy, Albie Roberts, mate, it’s been a heck of a year. I’ve tried my hardest but I know I haven’t been the best partner at times, but, regardless, using your attributes and your warm and charismatic personality you have shone brightly, not only as a leader, but as an awesome friend. Without the tireless work you have put in, I would not be able to stand up here today and say that we’ve done a pretty good job. To Dr Michael Field, ‘Fieldo’, the mana you have displayed not only to me but to all of us Julius lads is why Julius House is the safe and welcoming environment it is, allowing boys like myself to grow into well-rounded individuals under your wing as our mentor (another reason why Julius is the best House
at College). Sir, I wish you all the best in your future ventures in Kenya as you continue to nurture young people as you have here for the past seven-and-a-half years. Last, to my family, more specifically my parents. Mum, Dad, I know there have been times when I’m first out of the house and last back in, and when we do get to see each other and you ask me about my day, I’m always moody, tired, hungry and/or complaining about something that’s happened at school. However, 17 years later, after all we’ve been through, you are both always the first ones in my corner. I love you guys. As I take off my korowai and hand over the responsibilities of this school to our future leaders, Ihaka, Aaron, and Harrison, I want them to know that they have my full support and trust as they take this College to new heights coming into its 175th year. I would now like to invite Ihaka up to the stage. Ihaka, you have been picked for this role for all the right reasons. Use the skills and the character you possess to flourish in your role next year. Just remember: “O le tele o sulu e maua ai figota.” Through collaboration, the most difficult challenges can be overcome. Our strength does not come from us alone but from many. To conclude, one final message to all. Your life, at the end of the day, is what you make it. As the one and only Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”. So, give yourselves as many chances as possible to succeed, while still enjoying every minute as they come and go, as it will all be done before you know it. I will be forever thankful for this wonderful opportunity and will cherish the memories that have come with it. And with that, for one last time, PTTP. Zinzan Bondarenko-Leatua Head Prefect 2024
Now one may think, with the number of speeches I’ve given this year, writing this one was a walk in the park. Well, surprisingly, this was not the case. This isn’t just another one of those Assembly speeches where I (quote from another College student) “yap about some random stuff on stage for a couple of minutes”. Instead, I have to try and encapsulate the learnings and experiences I’ve obtained as a part of this Christ’s College family, while still trying to keep it at an acceptable length. I’ll give it a go. I’ve spoken on various topics throughout this year, with some messages being more ‘interesting’ than others. I mean, who could blame me? It’s not the easiest job keeping a group of teenage boys and all the staff awake on a Thursday morning. However, I’ve learnt, from being on both sides of a lectern, that the best messages and pieces of advice usually, aren’t much longer than a sentence. So here’s mine – a two-word question followed by a one-word answer. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing or when, but ask yourself, ‘Who cares?’ The answer should be ‘you’. See, we frequently get so caught up in the midst of other people’s opinions and judgements and the looming pressures of assignments, work, and external factors that we end up losing track of why we do the things we do, typically leading us to burn out, as we run ourselves into the ground trying to please everyone and everything. Now, boys, I’m not saying that you should stick your noses out and let your arrogance run free. Trust me,
Te¯na¯ koutou katoa Ko Aoraki te maunga Ko Oˉ takaro te awa
journeys we have had over this year, and, for some of us, a final reflection on an odyssey now coming to its closing credits. Every year our College community continues to thrive; if anything, I doubt that statement will ever be false. Some special moments showcasing this come to mind. Our Senior A Basketball team winning its second national title in three years, two incredible school productions, Anything Goes and Puffs , a record- breaking 11 Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and 35 NZQA Academic Scholarships, four of which were at the Outstanding level, let alone all of the achievements and celebrations you will see today.
Ko Bondarenko-Leatua te wha¯nau Ko Ned raua ko Nat taku ma¯tua Ko Mikey toˉku teina Ko Eliza toˉku tuahine Ko Te Kura Karaiti toˉku kura Noˉ Oˉ tautahi ahau Мои предки с Дальнего Востока России I lo’u ava, ma lo’u fa’a alo alo lava, oute fa’a Talofa atu ai. I want to start by welcoming all the students, staff, wha¯nau, and friends to this year’s prize-giving. This event is the perfect occasion to celebrate the successes of those we care about and look back on the
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Christ’s College Canterbury
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