Whangarei Girls' High School dux Simran Kaur. Photo / supplied
Growing up, Simran Kaur was convinced she’d never measure up to her Pākehā peers.
Breaking that belief became the biggest challenge in her journey to becoming this year’s dux of Whangārei Girls’ High School.
Simran, a first-generation New Zealander of Indian descent, says she doesn’t know where that self-doubt came from – it certainly wasn’t from home.
“My parents always told me you can do everything you put your mind to,” she said.
Her view kept her from grasping some of the opportunities in her earlier school years, Simran said.
“It wasn’t that I was afraid or ashamed of myself or my culture … but it was just … deeply rooted in me, I suppose.”
Simran’s turning point came in Year 11 when she forced herself to enter a speech competition.
“I was like, well, I’ve got to get rid of this fear that I have or get rid of what’s troubling me,” she said.
She won, and it was at that moment, Simran said, she realised her fears didn’t need to define her.
From then on, she worked consciously to change her thinking.
“Thinking that I’m less isn’t going to do anything for me,” she said. “I realised that, well, no, I’m a person like everyone else.”
Simran stayed connected to her Indian heritage throughout.
“I was always rooted in my community. Like I’ve volunteered at the [Sikh] temple every Sunday,” she said.
Watching her repeatedly in the limelight at the school’s prizegiving last month – laden with trophies, certificates, and flowers – it’s hard to imagine Simran ever nursed such limiting feelings.
She collected an impressive haul: Dux, the C O’Donnell Cup & PTA Award for Head Girls’ Contribution to School (shared), Organiser of the Year, Mr Mac Cup for commitment to English and passion for literature, Level 3 Commerce Cup, David Hansen Memorial Trophy for community service and the Janet Lang Memorial Heart of Gold award.
“It was basically a culmination of everything I’d done, like, in a way, a proof of it,” she said. “Finally, I’ve made it.”
One of the prizes that meant the most was for her volunteer work outside school.
“Volunteering has always just been my thing,” she said.
From teaching Punjabi classes at the Sikh temple every Sunday to helping at Hospice and community events, Simran has made giving back a priority.
Beyond the trophies, what mattered most was making her parents proud.
“For everything they’ve done, I feel like this is the least I can do.”
Her father’s story is one of grit and success. After arriving in New Zealand 29 years ago, he initially worked as an agricultural worker in Pukekohe until moving into retail and eventually owning a string of liquor stores across Northland.
“I’m very, very, very grateful for him and his commitments and everything he’s done to be able to offer us a life that we’re so privileged to have.”
She was also thankful for all the support she found at Whangārei Girls’ - from her peers and teachers.
“In Year 13, they literally treat you like family. They root for your success so hard ... all my teachers, they’re so happy and you can tell that comes from within.”
Next year, Simran heads to Auckland University to begin a conjoint degree in law and commerce, with plans to double major in finance and accounting.
“The new goal is at the moment just surviving uni,” she laughed. “But I plan on immersing myself in as many volunteering opportunities and clubs as possible, and debating.”
Simran hoped to stay connected to a Whangārei initiative she’s passionate about – the Youth Action Group, which she joined this year.
“Joining the Youth Action Group really helped immerse myself more in the community,” she said. The group is planning a civics education project to boost political awareness among young people.
One of her future dreams is to give back to her family’s homeland.
“I definitely want to work towards creating better environments in small villages like mine back home,” she said. “It’s really poverty-stricken … and there’s a lot of pollution everywhere.
“A lot of people in India don’t even know what climate change is. How can you tackle something that you don’t know about?”
Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, most of which she spent court reporting in Gisborne and on the East Coast.