Hero photograph
 
Photo by Brendan Biggs

College Captain - Tovia Fui

Brendan Biggs —

Ia faamanuia le atua I loo tou faafoga. Thank you and God bless you all.

College Captain – Tovia Fui

E muamua lava ona sii le viiga male faafetai I le Atua, aua ua taitaiina ma lo otou soifua ma lou nei ola I le nei aso na atofaina, talofa talofa lava.

Tonight I’d like to welcome you all, parents, esteemed guests, staff, students and my fellow year 13 graduates on my right who have served St Thomas for many years. Tonight I stand before you not only as one of your College Captains, but with the scary task to speak on behalf of my brothers. Brothers not by blood but by loyalty and bonds we’ve experienced during out time at the College. I must admit it’s quite a big job to give this speech, but with the help of my fellow captain Delane Luke, we will tackle this speech tag team. Tonight we reflect on what has been a year of development a year of hard work and a year that has been nothing short of success, and as we say our final goodbyes to the college and break off to our separate ways, let us take this moment to reminisce and recall why St Thomas is not just a school that gives education but a home that gives a family.

Let me ask you a question. If you asked the person next to you to think of a typical Pacifica male, what would they think of? Would singlet, a ie lavalava and jandals come to mind? Would they think of a “sole” who takes pride in his plantation and supplying taro for the family? Would they think of a man whose first sport and first love first word be rugby? Or would they think of a four foot tall man, hairy feet “skuxx” hairdo living in the hood? I can tell you with a fair amount of certainty that a slim singlet would definitely not suit me, I can barely dig a hole, rugby is not my first sport despite my size and I am certainly not four feet tall. Just because I don’t fit into what instantly comes to mind when you think of a Pacifica Male, that doesn’t mean I’m not one. It would be a ridiculous thought if we expected everyone to fit into this mould. Every Pacifica male the exact same in the same template.. Ha! No way…

Now let me ask you this, what do you see when you picture an STC man? A handsome bachelor contender? Or is that just me? A man who is not afraid to share his addiction to Minecraft? Or just a nobody? This speech gives me the opportunity to share my journey into becoming an STC, share the power of belonging and most important give a final thanks as we draw a close on 2015.

My journey as an STC man began in 2011, as a year nine student. The days where I’d be swallowed in my new blue blazer, the days of embracing a handball victory and the never ending inter-house wars. But even before this, my journey started at the college as a year 8 student taking the pre-entry exam. Gym filled with year eight students…. And as the exam finished students would be called by their names and walk out one by one to take their photo and leave, It got to a point where 5 students left to call out, 3 , 2 and then it was just me, left alone in the big scary gym. Left last to only find out my name was not on the role. At that very moment I was thinking in my head. “Mum did you even enrol me?” and “I should’ve just gone to another school.” I felt as if I did not belong here. This was a memory that I will never forget. Later that day, with the help of “Biggsie” I was finally got it’ sorted and took my photo with a smile on my face that had “I am finally an STC man” written all over it.

The power of belonging is a strong emotional need with a touch of give and take, in order to belong, we need to accept. For in order to love we need to forgive. At the College we have been blessed with number of opportunities in all aspects of the College. When I began I must admit, I struggled to break in with groups of boys, but once I did, I did not look back. Classmates turned into friends, and friends turned into brothers. Tonight on this very stage sit my brothers, we conquered the early morning 7:50 starts, conquered the double periods of maths, and I am proud to belong to this brotherhood that could finally say “We made it.” You’ve all accepted me to belong to the college family and I am proud to call you all my brothers rather than just friends.

Tonight we gather not only to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of our prize getters or farewell these handsome men on stage, but to celebrate the character and identity of the school that I will forever belong to. I am honoured and privileged to be a part of this school and proud of every achievement. The small school of six hundred reaching their full potential has been a pleasure to be a part of. Whether it’s taking the sports field wearing the blue gold and red or the Pacifica and Kapahaka group taking the stage and stealing the show, the whole community are able to witness the passion and pride this school has. And as we depart to become old boys it is safe to say that this school will forever be moving forward and upwards to bigger and better things to a point where we will break records and break expectations and set national records and beyond.

For as long as I have been a College Captain I have come to notice the road hasn’t been easy on my own. Which is why I’d like to acknowledge my partner in crime Delane Luke, it’s been a pleasure to work alongside you, we feed off each other’s’ knowledge, and you have made this year much more enjoyable with your help. Not to forget the student leadership team. Your contribution to the school has lifted a huge burden off Delane and I. You are the hands and feet of our success – thank you. Being a College Captain has been an eye opening experience as it has shaped and made me the man I am today. The new school values introduced this year have not only inspired me through the tough times, but have become a part of my everyday life. They say to never forget your home, and I can surely say that as my set off for new endeavours, I will forever hold the values, skills and support I’ve been equipped with from this school.

Ladies and Gentlemen it has been a pleasure to speak tonight, I’d like to thank all those who made this night possible, not just those who planned tonight, but the whole 18 years in the making for these men. Parents, we thank you, you are our motivation, our push our drive … our everything. The tears and stress has all paid off as you have brought up men who have survived high school. To the teachers, you have all played a massive role in our education, your commitment to our education is the reason we are sitting on this stage tonight. To the students, may you all grow to be fine young men and never forget the Lord. Take every opportunity and never forget the brotherhood that has been laid before you. You have been a dream to lead this year men.

To my fellow graduates, as we close this chapter in our lives and start a new one, I urge you to never lose the school spirit, passion and love for others. Learn to accept the good and bad, the easy and hard and forever cherish the memories we’ve made over the years wearing the blazer. You are all a credit to yourselves, families and the school, and you will always be St Thomas men. Give all your burdens to the Lord and when you hit rock bottom to a point no one will believe in you, remember that I always will. Let your identity bring out the good in you and let it shine before men.

As my time at the College and my speech for you all comes to an end, I’d like to leave you with a challenge? The legacy of the school is forever growing, but what are you going to do to express the school identity with the pride it deserves? The school is definitely on the rise, and it is my challenge to you all to take our STC banner and let it fly high among our rivals, take the candle of inclusiveness and bring light to the darkness and hope to the hopeless. There is not a doubt in my mind that St Thomas will achieve whether it’s sports, cultural or NCEA. Continue to work hard and serve as a brotherhood, accept one another and whether you come and go never forget that you belong to St Thomas.

Like I asked at the beginning of my speech, what do you picture when you see an STC man? You see men like my brothers on stage: men who serve, men who willing to change and men who accept each other. For it says in Roman 15:7 “Accept one another just as Christ has accepted you, in order to bring glory to God” Let your story and your identity but glory to God, and change to the world.

Ia faamanuia le atua I loo tou faafoga. Thank you and God bless you all.

Tovia Fui