We have a few traditions in this mighty school of ours. Whether it’s the Christ’s College interschool, the last word or, so it seems, having a rather large weekend with a rather large recap on the Monday. These traditions are clearly very divergent of each other.

Christ’s interschool is significant because it has been running for about 140 years which, to tell you again, happens to be the longest running interschool in the southern hemisphere, (until they didn’t want their First XV ferociously flayed for another year in a row (up the hoops).

The last word is a notable tradition as it has been running for a number of years now and it is a cracking way of building your confidence as a public speaker, while also giving you blokes a break from the humdrum of an assembly.

The final thing isn’t exactly a tradition...yet. It may not be appropriate to admit but I’ve had some bad experiences with alcohol in the attempt of having a ‘banging’ night.

Yeah alright, it happened once, and I got the old lecture about kids that I didn’t know dying because of it. It won’t happen again...right? Well...not exactly. Mr Tagg’s message about alcohol resonates with me more than most as my Grandad, who has passed away, was an alcoholic, and it is prevalent as seen with Mike King’s presentation. That one speech, as great as it was, will not change our view on a subject with just a flick of a switch. I can say I agree with all of the evidence and relevant conclusions about the dangers of alcohol, yet, I still like to drink. It may seem like a double standard but honestly too much of anything can be lethal.

I am passionate about the safe use of alcohol, which is why I think there should be more educational engagement about it at a younger age. Perhaps Year 9 and 10 would be a good place to start. Going along the theme of juniors, lads...they look up to us, and the way we use alcohol which is why I think the first time drinking age of students is getting seemingly lower. I can be damn sure I never heard of year 10’s in my year getting dizzy on the fizzy as they say. This is a quote from Nelly, “HERE COMES THE-BOOM”.

All I’m saying is the hardest hitting messages usually come through us, not the teachers, parents, mentors. Our chums. Our mates. Us. That’s where the ‘boom’ comes from.

Thanks.