Dean Stewart, who won the award for the most outstanding student in intake 2018/2, reflects on his Tihoi experience.

Tihoi has been the most amazing six months of schooling I could ever imagine. I have pursued a larger range of outdoor activities than most people would in a lifetime, I have been in a house where I have had to cook, clean and live with a team of eight other boys. I have been challenged daily by the fitness programme. And yet with all of this going on, my school grades have only got better.

I have made so many great memories during my time at Tihoi. Some of my standout moments were when all the boys ripped a haka down by the waterfall at the marae; when we sent trains of boys sliding down the slopes of Mt Ruapehu; watching everyone dressed up with painted facial hair, competing in Kiwi bloke day. And this list could go on and on.

Some of the many new skills we have all gained during Tihoi include: navigating through the bush, eddy turns in a kayak, fire lighting, cooking on Trangias, scrubbing Trangias and many more skills on our chosen expeditions.

The greatest lesson Tihoi has taught me is the high standard of living that was expected of us during Tihoi. To live in an immaculately cleaned house with a made bed and tidy shelves. To cook well-balanced meals for ourselves. To live with a structured daily routine so that meal time, fitness time and bedtime are the same every day. I have found that with early nights, healthy food and daily exercise I have more energy during the day to put into school work and outdoor activities.

During our time at Tihoi, many boys have pushed themselves harder than ever before, each individually discovering that their limits are way beyond where they thought they were just a couple of months ago. The virtues programme has been drilled into us weekly, helping to set our moral compasses straight for our future. Tihoi has raised the bar of where I want to go in life and what I want to achieve academically and recreationally in my future.

Finally, I would like to thank the Tihoi staff for their commitment, inspiration and for sharing their skills and experience with us. And at times, thank you for your patience and tolerance. We have been lucky to have had such an amazing group of instructors to guide us through the challenges that Tihoi presents.