Keenan Matthes

 Congratulations to everyone involved. The achievements of our students are outstanding. Dedication, commitment, passion and resilience have all been on display over the last two weeks.

I can attest to the fact that our students excel in many disciplines, far more than when I was a teenager. We have students who are outstanding sportspeople on a national stage and then play beautifully in our school bands and orchestras. I always walk away so uplifted after these events and thankful that I get to be involved with our young people every day. Best job in the world.

Despite appreciating our young people at Wellington College, I still feel blown away by their achievements. The easy part is in announcing their accomplishments; the hard part is the thousands of hours that go into achieving it. I think teenagers today have a lot on their plates with how quickly technology changes and takes hold of them, and having a world that is literally at their fingertips.

Back on deck
As many of you know, I was struck down by Covid-19 last week. It's great to be back at school. I know that you can take medicine and rest, but I think being back at school has been an incredible tonic, indeed the best medicine, for me. I can't tell you how disappointed I was to miss the last week that our seniors were at school with us - just to be able to tell them how great they have been and how much aroha I have for them. I want to thank all of our fabulous staff here at WC for doing a superb job, and in making the last week, in particular, a very good one. To our Year 13 leavers, thank you for everything and for leading us so well in the last term. I am very grateful. Please make sure you come and see me when you can, just to catch up and to give me a chance to thank you. Go well in your exams. Remember, turning up in mind and body is more than half the battle. If you do your best, no one can ask more of you.

Keenan Matthes
When I was principal of Massey High School, I had the great fortune of knowing a tremendous young man named Keenan Matthes. He was an outstanding rugby player, a great student to teach, and a leader in his community. Like a number of our WC boys, he was multi-talented.

One day he popped into my office and said, "Can I speak to you about something important?" I said, “Of course you can.” "Sir, I know you are unwell and that you have got cancer. I'm so sorry, Sir. I heard one of the teachers talking about it." I said, "Keenan, no need to apologise, I'll be fine." He replied, "Sir, is it okay if I pray for you?" I told him I would be honoured, thinking that he would pray for me when he was next at church. Instead, he came straight over to where I was sitting and put his hand on my shoulder and started to pray. A moment like this provides a certain vulnerability. There I was, the principal of Massey High School, and my job is to love and care for all of my students, to be the rock that they can go to for support and make sure they have everything that they need. At that moment, there was a Year 11 boy taking care of me! It was a powerful moment where I learned that leadership comes in all shapes, sizes, and ages.

As Keenan developed his leadership qualities, his aroha for people and desire to serve the community were always at the forefront. We would have conversations about leadership and he would say something to me that I would always remember and use. We were talking about listening to what was being said, not the way it's being said. I told Keenan that being present in the moment and fully focused on the person in front of us and letting them know you are listening is the key. He said that when he has a teammate or a friend who is angry or upset, he keeps a serious face on but always tries to finish with a smile. He said a smile doesn't always mean you're happy - it can also mean that you have heard someone, that you have learned something and that you understand. I said to Keenan, "As you can see, Keenan, I'm smiling because I have learned something from you and I understand." He said, "The world will always need smiling faces."

On the last day of Term One, when Keenan was in Year 12, he knocked on my office door at school and said "Sir, you need a haircut and you look tired, so you need a rest!" I said, "Thank you so much, Keenan. I will absolutely do both. I think sometimes you're my big brother, Keenan!" He said "Sir, we are all brothers, we all lead each other, and we have to look after each other. That's what whānau is, Sir!"

It was the last time I saw Keenan. He was killed less than a week later. He was listening to a motivational recording while he was out running at 7am with his headphones on, and was hit by a train at a crossing less than 200 metres from his home. I think of Keenan often. He taught me that success is not always about winning, that it's far more important to try. It's about finishing 20th in a race and being happy because you finished 30th last time. He taught me that from pauper or prince, everyone is important and everyone can lead. Most importantly, he taught me that smiling is always good.

I'll leave you with something that Keenan said to me at the last prizegiving he attended. He said, "Matua, what do you think about this? Big or small doesn't matter - it will always be what is on the inside that matters most. What do you think, Sir?" I replied, "I think what's inside you could fill Eden Park with aroha." He reached out and shook my hand and said, "Not me, Sir, with us, Sir, with us in it." I walked away feeling like I had just met with my life coach and that I could do whatever I set my mind to.

Love you, Keenan.

Mr Denham