A group of 24 Christchurch Girls' High Students, along with 600 other students from across Canterbury, were lucky enough to attend the 2019 Emerging Leaders' Conference held at Christ's College on Tuesday 2 July.

The day started with a speech from a 2 time gold medal Paralympian, Liam Malone. He gave us an insight into his road to success and most importantly the drastic change in his life choices and those he surrounded himself with in order to gain a purpose and achieve to the great level he knew he was capable of. Liam's story was most inspiring to us, as we took away the idea of facing whatever challenges life throws at us and thinking of ways to unlock our own potential.

The day continued with many other presentations such as ones from Ekant Veer, an Associate Professor of Marketing and the Associate Dean of Postgraduate Research at the University of Canterbury, who defined and contrasted the difference between failing, an action which can be learned from, and a failure, a negative mindset which can prevent further self growth. Mandy Kennedy was another speaker who is the CEO of Ronald McDonald house, who inspired us to follow a career which allows you to grow but which also gives you the ability to gain success not only by achievements designed to obtain self benefit but also the benefit of others. 

The third speaker was Marc Mollo, a nutritionist, who shed light on the importance of the correct physical care needed, before one can live and perform properly to the extent they are capable of. The next speaker was Jessie Kendall who suffered from birth trauma, mental health issues, bullying and disability issues. She stressed the importance of having self worth and loving yourself before you can love and lead others.

After the first 3 speakers we were all split into different groups, with other students from other schools, and each attended different leadership workshops. Each workshop was designed to link leadership into different careers and situations as well as a self reflection period on the self improvement and goals we can make and the steps we need to carry through in order to achieve these goals.

The day was wrapped up with the final speaker, Isaac Giesen, the first ever New Zealander to row the Atlantic ocean and to do it twice in a year. He left us with the idea that when life gives us challenges we can’t focus on the tiny things which are wrong as they distract us from the bigger picture, therefore we just have to just “keep on rowing”.

Overall this day had a huge impact on us, grateful candidates, and it was a pleasure to represent Christchurch Girls' High School / Te Kura o Hine Waiora at this event. We took away many important messages and lessons which opened our eyes to improving the idea of leadership not only within ourselves but within the school as a whole and look forward to making a difference within the years to come.