Throughout my life, I have been subject to change. One of the first major changes I had to adapt to was moving from Timaru to Dunedin at the sassy age of eight. By gosh, was that a huge shock for me! I had to learn to make new friends, decide what to wear everyday after coming from Sacred Heart to St Clair, how to survive in a city and learning to be okay with travelling by myself back and forth to my old life in Timaru. I would be lying if I said this was not exhausting, because it was, and at times quite isolating too. I spent too much time missing my old life instead of appreciating the new. However, as I got older I began to realise that this change made my cup so much more full.

I adored St Clair Primary School. Beach days building sandcastles, production practice in Te Manawanui and ‘Go Home Stay Home’ on the humongous playground. The teachers accommodated my ‘world’ size personality, keeping me busy and pushing me to reach further. The school helped build character and students who loved to be alive. St Clair was my first real taste of how amazing being your true, authentic self can be. I was appreciated just for being me.

I am utterly grateful that my positive journey with school didn’t stop after I left primary school. I had an incredible experience through intermediate, which continued with high school. Similarly to Cinderella, St Hilda’s was the shoe that fit me. What drew me to come to St Hilda’s was my older sister attended, though also the immense opportunities that could be available to me, that I felt I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. These being not only Academic opportunities, but also Sport, Cultural and extra curricular. I wanted to be pushed and challenged. I wanted to further myself. I wanted to be able to set myself up for success in all honesty.

Since I am now in my fifth year of attendance at St Hilda’s, I can proudly say that I got what I came to St Hilda's for, but I also got so much more that I didn’t know I needed. I really like the smaller scale of St Hilda's. With only 450 students, you feel a part of a tight knit community. You feel seen and heard, which I think are so important for students' school experiences. I love that we have boarders, and also International Students. It has enabled me to make friends with people who live all over the lower South Island, and even people who live in another country - many of which live a very different lifestyle to the one I do. My friends and peers have helped me get through my high school years, both when times have been easy and also when they have been tough.

St Hilda’s has helped me grow myself as a person, though also grown my love for a multitude of things. I have played hockey since I was little and the large and close knit hockey community at St Hilda’s continues to strengthen my love for the sport. St Hilda's has a lot of teams, across different age groups and abilities. Not only has the sport brought me new friendships and connections, it has also brought a lot of opportunities. I was very proud to be a part of the First X1 Team who won the Audrey Timlin Cup in 2022, meaning we now can enter the Federation Cup for 2023! We had awesome staff and a truly incredible support crew, which lifted our already amazing team to be even better.

I have also enjoyed my academic experience. I have been pushed and challenged when I needed to be pushed, and supported when I needed it too. I love how passionate the staff are about their subjects, as it inspires the students to also be excited to learn and grow. My curiosity and amazement of the world around me only grows as I get older - which makes me excited for when I will get to experience it more in the future first hand.

Something that I am very grateful for that St Hilda's has on offer is a large range of clubs and extracurricular activities. I have been a part of a lot of clubs throughout the years - many of which I continue to do because I love being a part of them. I am really passionate about Amnesty International, Z Club, Volunteer Club and Enviro Club - to name just a few. Being in these clubs have allowed me to have a voice, but also make a positive difference in our school and wider Dunedin community. I love having the opportunity to help other people.

The 2023 prefect team has made its year goal to encourage students to be their authentic selves, as well as supporting ourselves and each other in an environment that is built on kindness and inclusivity. We want St Hilda’s to be like a family; who all support and challenge each other, as well as appreciating that everyone in our family brings something different to the table. I believe that we have been working hard in this first term to make school a place where students can come to school as no one else but themselves. We will continue to strengthen this throughout the school year.

I thank the students and staff at St Hilda’s for supporting me to be Ava Beens through and through. They have encouraged me to explore all my interests and passions. They have not tried to change who I am. They have accepted my ‘world’ sized personality and appreciated it.

As 2024 moves further towards the now, and away from the future, I remind myself of important things that St Hilda’s has taught me. I will soon be moving into another big change in my life. I have plans and ideas of where I want to go and what I want to do, though I know that even this could all change. St Hilda’s has further taught me that change is actually important to grow, and has also helped me make a little sassy eight year old Ava proud of who she has become today.