A Hagley College Student Leader

On Wednesday I had the pleasure to catch up with Zigba Yismaw about her recent involvement in the Learning and Community HUBS Ōtautahi. These awards acknowledge academic success and leadership expertise in our young people of Ōtautahi.

Zigba was acknowledged under the leadership category.

It is fair to say that Zigba is a passionate and aspiring leader. She was involved in the facilitating of a diversity workshop that ran as part of our Year 9 Orientation in February. This was an experience she very much enjoyed. She explained to students the difficulties when everything is new for you as a new resident of New Zealand and that it is important to have confidence in yourself and respect everyone.

Zigba has taken her skills she learnt in coming to New Zealand to extend a warm welcome to students starting in the English Language Learners department at Hagley. She shows clear leadership and empathy in this way.

Recently, Zigba has joined the student council. Her voice is really valuable to the council and she can be a connection between the council and English Language Learners. A council that represents the diversity of Hagley is very important to us.

Zigba is also a very keen badminton player and encourages other students to play sport. She told me how much she enjoys that and wants her friends to play as it makes it more fun.

Zigba is supported by her sister who attends Hagley and her brother who did attend Hagley but is now at ARA. Her long-term plans are to be a nurse and she plans to put her excellent leadership skills to good use next year when she studies Pre-Health at ARA. The experience of attending these awards was a positive one for Zigba. She represented our kura with pride.

When I asked Zigba what advice she would give new students to Hagley, she said that it is important to introduce yourself to people so you can make some friends, have confidence in yourself and have a big smile.

What an awesome leader! Well done, Zigba and thank you for your contribution to Hagley.