Joining St Hilda’s was a very unexpected, but worthwhile experience that I was faced with during 2020. While living in Cambridge and hearing that my dad had received the job at John McGlashan College to be the Deputy Principal, I was in no way excited that I would be moving to Dunedin halfway through the year. Having to leave all of my friends behind and go through the hassle of moving houses again (as I had already moved in 2015), nothing was really sounding too great about this change to my 14 year old self. Little did she know, this would be one of the best things to ever happen and that there was nothing to be worried about. I was pleasantly shocked and now am forever grateful for moving to Dunedin, becoming a part of the St Hilda’s whānau, and I'm especially grateful for the friendships I have created along the way.

I expected that joining the St Hilda’s community as a Year 10 would be very challenging. I thought that joining a high school at a different time to everyone else in my year group would mean that everyone would know everyone, and the year group would already have their friend groups sorted. However, I was faced with the opposite. I was very lucky to have a year group who were all close with each other, where no matter what class you were in, you always had a friend. With so much support from the staff, and seeing so many friendly approachable faces around school, I quickly made many great friends. I felt as though I could be myself, rather than trying to fit in by being someone else. I joined many sporting teams including netball, volleyball, hockey and dance crews, which were all very enjoyable. I made so many friends, in my year group as well as year groups above and below.

I am especially passionate and keep myself busy by dancing, where I currently attend the Dunedin School of Ballet & Dance. Although I haven’t been a part of the Dunedin dance family for long, I have still managed to stick with something I have been passionate about since I was 2 years old - building so many valuable friends at my dance school here, as well as in Hamilton, Cambridge, and New Plymouth. I am also very grateful to be able to take dance as a subject here at St Hilda’s, with great resources, a new dance classroom, and an inspiring dance teacher. I feel that the subject is not only something for me to come into to get away from stress, feel calm and enjoy, but also to challenge myself and push myself out of my comfort zone.

I am so grateful to have been recognised by the school as a leader, even though I haven’t been here for the longest time. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to represent and support St Hilda’s students and staff, and I look forward to what the year has to offer and what initiatives I can come up with to share with the school. Being the Maori and Pasifika Prefect, I am to share my knowledge and experiences with the school, which is a learning experience for them and myself! This year, it is most important to me that I become more confident in myself and to proudly embrace my culture, which I can then inspire others to join me in.

Moving to Dunedin and joining St Hilda’s as a Year 10 was not something that was initially planned, or something I was excited to begin. However I am so grateful for this journey. To have moved and joint St Hilda’s is something I will forever be grateful for. Making such valuable and inspiring friends, joining sports teams, continuing my passion for dance inside and outside of school, and being recognised as a leader are all things I am so appreciative of. As it's my last year of school, next year I am heading out into the real world, whether I go to Otago Polytechnic or University of Otago, I am confident that my high school experience has been spent wisely and well. I will be sad to leave St Hilda’s, but I am so excited to see what the future holds for me, as I believe St Hilda’s has prepared me and has truly given me the best.