Natasha Fry

Greetings everyone, my name is Tash and I am honoured to be one of Hornby High School's head students for 2022.

I remember during a parent teacher interview very early on in my time at Hornby High School, my year 8 teacher, our beloved Mr Mitchell, predicted I would be here today. If I recall, my exact words were along the lines of Sir, I honestly couldn’t think of anything worse than being a head student. Despite these initial thoughts, this position has provided me with so many amazing opportunities, and through our work with other schools around Christchurch I have had the privilege of getting to know many wonderful people with bright futures ahead of them.

The list of those I’d like to acknowledge for their persistent support, encouragement and compassion so far in my journey is endless. To my own class teachers, both past and present, I thank you for the wisdom you’ve imparted to me and the devotion you have for your students which is so greatly reflected each and every day. You have never failed to provide us with the deepest level of understanding and care, even during our most challenging moments (and believe me there have been many). Miss Abernethy, Mr Aitken, Mr Heath, Mrs Handley, and Mr Reizinger, thank you for making my final year one to remember.

I’d also like to give an especially large thank you to my dean Mr Stock, and Mr Heath, who’s guidance throughout the past year has helped me to overcome many of my own personal obstacles. I believe that without your support and willingness to lend an ear I wouldn’t have had as much success or had as much enjoyment out of school as I did this year.

To our future prefects, I wish you the best of luck. Balancing school and prefect duties can get pretty hectic at times, but you’ll quickly learn to share the load and I have no doubt that Hornby is in good hands. And to all of you sitting here tonight, many of whom will be the future young leaders of our kura and beyond, I wish you all the best for your future.

A recurring theme in Mr Sutton’s speeches over the years has been that school will be what you make of it. As I reflect, this rings more true with every year. Time has gone by faster than I could have ever imagined. So, as clichéd as this is, savor every moment - don't take your time here for granted. Aim high, but don’t forget to be a teenager, and make the most of your high school experience.

I walk away today with cherished memories from my time at Hornby High School. I’ll miss my teachers, I’ll miss our students, but most of all I’ll miss my fellow Year 13s. I’m so thankful to have met and grown with every single one of you. For quite a few of us, we’ve been on this path together since our first days of primary school. Saying goodbye to all of you tomorrow, and knowing we won’t all be together in the same room again is going to be hard. But I can’t wait to see where life takes us, and I know we’re all going to do great things. I hope our paths cross again. Teachers, class of 22’, thank you for shaping me into the person I am today.