Emma Christie - Deputy Head Girl

It is hard to believe how quickly time flies, and four and a half years on from the time I first walked through the front archway as a new and excited year nine student, I find myself with the privilege of serving St Hilda’s as the Deputy Head Girl for 2020. I think it’s fair to say that no one predicted 2020 would turn into the year of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has certainly presented its challenges to us all, but I have valued the opportunities it has provided to me and the prefect team as we work to lead and strengthen the St Hilda’s sisterhood.

Sport and extra curricular activities have been a big part of my life at St Hilda’s. I’ve represented the school across a wide array of different sports including waterpolo, tennis, netball and in my main sport rowing, which I have now finished after being a member of the St Hilda’s squad for three consecutive seasons. Rowing was one of the most challenging but also most fulfilling things that I have done to date, and I learnt and grew a lot through the experiences I had during my time as a rower. A skillset that I continually draw upon in my role as a prefect.

Aside from sport I’ve been offered several other opportunities during my time at school, all which have challenged and helped me grow into the person I am today. Some of these include representing my year group on the student council, being a member of the St Hilda’s Z Club, and helping girls through our peer tutoring and mentoring programmes. A highlight for me was near the end of 2018, when I travelled to Wellington with my Digital Technologies class where we were recognised in a ceremony at parliament for our work as part of the national review of NCEA.

We are all extremely lucky to attend a school with such a strong community environment and staff members who are supportive and passionate in their different areas of expertise. As a prefect team we are working continuously to build on this special school spirit, with a particular focus on making St Hilda’s a place where girls are able to feel accepted, involved and encouraged to reach their full potential. I do encourage you all to make the most of this special place we are privileged to be a part of.

Where my journey takes me next year, I’m still not 100 percent sure, but I know St Hilda’s has equipped me well for whatever my future brings. My interests lie within the business and humanities disciplines, and at this stage I plan to undertake a Bachelor of Commerce at Otago University majoring in Economics and Finance, alongside a Bachelor of Laws.

However, for now, in spite of COVID-19, I plan to make the most of my last year of high school before my life in the big wide world begins.