Libby Drummond - Head Girl

Prior to attending St Hildas, I attended Heriot Primary School until Year 6, then Blue Mountain College for Year 7 & 8. Although I truly loved the farm life, the idea of attending an all girls school and living away from home had me sold. The “light blue uniform” took my eye, and before I knew it I was under the arch getting my photo taken on my first day of Year 9 in 2017. I had no idea how my next five years would pan out.

St Hilda’s has offered me more than I could ever have imagined. I have partaken in many sporting tournaments, traveled to Japan and formed bonds with a large number of girls. The teachers have had a huge impact on my life at St Hilda’s. Whether you are struggling with internals or participating in any activity, every teacher will support, encourage and go out of their way to make sure you are always at your best. Knowing that each teacher has my back, both in and out of the classroom is extremely humbling. 

Sport has also been a big part of my schooling journey. I have achieved very highly in every area I have contributed to, which I believe is a direct representation of the coaching and support St Hilda’s has to offer. A couple of my highlights would have to be attending the Maadi Cup rowing regatta and playing in the Secondary School Girls South Island Rugby final. Playing alongside fellow teammates is something I cherish very much, as the culture of St Hilda’s builds a unique sisterhood bringing the school cohort closer together.

Living at Tolcarne has allowed me to take up so many new opportunities, with everything being right at my back doorstep, only a quick five-minute trip to trainings and games, meaning more time can be spent playing sport than traveling. Although living away from home is different, the positives definitely outweigh any negatives.

An important aspect of St Hilda’s is the belief that “it is okay to make mistakes.” This is something that has stuck with me over the years and has crossed over into many different areas of my life. It has motivated me to push my limits, given me the opportunity to learn, and encouraged me to get back up and try again when things don’t go as planned, rather than dwell and give up. This quality is something I will take with me as I move into future chapters of my life.

At the end of 2020, I was extremely privileged to be appointed Head Girl for 2021, my final year at St Hilda’s. I feel so honoured to be a leader of this school and have the opportunity to give back to a community that has offered me so much. The role so far has taught me many important skills that I will be able to transfer into various parts of my life. I am looking forward to seeing what the Prefects of 2021 can accomplish. We are an ambitious and determined group who work well together. Although this first term has been busy, we have stuck together, embraced the challenges and grown in a variety of ways. 

Having the 125th Celebration was a humbling experience, in the sense that we were all able to gain an understanding of the legacy St Hilda’s holds, not only for our time here but also for the future years to come. Continuing to preserve this legacy but also leaving our own impression is hopefully something our Prefect team can achieve throughout this year, to make the school an even better place for girls to learn and flourish.

Looking forward to life beyond St Hilda’s is a bit daunting, to say the least. Although I would love to tell myself that my career path is Forensic Science, I honestly wouldn't know and my mind could change at any point. I am just fortunate that I have been extremely well-prepared and equipped with valuable skills and knowledge to adapt and succeed in whichever occupation I choose.