Exploring Leadership Opportunities

As we head into the business end of the year, many of our students will be thinking about the different ways in which they can involve themselves in 2025 whether it is through academics, cultural pursuits or sports.

Another valuable area to be explored is student leadership. I encourage all students to be on the lookout for leadership opportunities they could seek over the coming weeks, particularly the Year 12s who may be keen to be considered for a School Prefect position.

Opportunities in student leadership sometimes remind me of the sign that is posted at one of my favourite hole in the hall coffee shops in Dunedin: “Staff wanted. Experience essential.” We have many Year 12 students who are eager to put themselves forward for leadership roles but may feel that their experience is lacking - and often only by virtue of their age. Sometimes it can seem that those who have led before are given the leadership opportunities - in other words, to steal a phrase from the economics' world: the rich get richer.

For those students who feel they may not be getting richer in their leadership pursuits, I suggest that sitting back and being on the lookout for opportunities may not be a productive strategy. One solution to this problem is to actively manufacture opportunities in which to allow their leadership skillset to develop and be showcased.

Here are a few simple ideas to start building momentum:

• Ask your Group Teacher if you could take the roll, read the daily notices, or run the online quizzes that many group classes enjoy

• Ask your sport's coach if you can decide what the warm-up should look like and then run it

• Ask your classroom teacher if you can run a starter activity for the class.

Obviously, there will be many more. I encourage the boys to think with their families as to where leadership opportunities can be manufactured, not just found. Each of the above require our young men to take action rather than waiting for the opportunity to be given. Being proactive in taking initiative is key to growing as a leader.