Arvin Pingol (left) and Rebecca Colby, the head boy and girl, hope to make an impact in their last year at John Paul College. PHOTOS/STEPHEN PARKER
Rotorua high schools have announced their head students for 2015. We look at the high achievers and discuss what they hope to achieve this year.
Making their school feel like a second home to students is one of the key objectives for this year's head boy and head girl at John Paul College.
With term one well under way, Rotorua's 2015 school leaders are working towards leaving a legacy of which they can be proud.
John Paul College's head boy Arvin Pingol and head girl Rebecca Colby agreed that being a leader was always on their agenda.
Rebecca didn't mind what kind of leadership role she was offered and said being head girl was a bonus.
"When I was a Year 7 student at John Paul College, I looked up to the school leaders and was impressed by the influence they had in the school," she said.
"At that young age I decided I wanted to be given the chance to have that type of influence in my final year.
"Being head girl this year is definitely a bonus, but I wouldn't have been disappointed if I was put in a different leadership role. The main thing I care about is making a difference for the younger students."
Rebecca said one of her main goals was to encourage more integration between year levels.
"I want to make sure the younger students know they can come to us if they need to talk about anything. I want to be known as an active leader, not a figurehead.
"We run a peer-support programme where the senior students spend time with the junior students. Through initiatives like that, we are encouraging more interaction and making the school feel like a second home, rather than an institute."
Arvin said when he started at John Paul College he was "quite scared and intimidated".
"It feels like a big school when you start so that can be very daunting for young students. I remember walking through the gates as a Year 7 and I was so scared, but the leaders at the time made me feel safe and comfortable ... they made me feel like I was not only a part of the school, but a part of their family"
Arvin said creating a greater sense of school spirit was also one of his objectives.
"I want students to feel proud when they tell people they go to John Paul College. School spirit is not something you can force or impose, it's something you have to foster and lead by example."
Both students agreed their leadership was about helping others in the school.
"As junior students, Rebecca and I had some amazing leaders looking out for us and contributing to our overall school experience. This year we want to continue that tradition and form closer relationships with the younger students."
Rotorua Girls' High School
Head girl: Montana Mareroa
"I hope to model the Rotorua Girls' High School way and encourage opportunities that will help us discover what excellence means for each of us across the four cornerstones of academic, sporting, cultural and leadership endeavours.
"It is exciting to be part of the leadership team and to work with the teachers and whaea Ally [the principal]. I hope to be an ambassador that the school, my whanau, hapu and iwi can be proud of.
"If I can do this, then perhaps others will see that they can be leaders too and I will have helped make a difference for nga rangatira mo apopo - our up and coming leaders."
Deputy head girl: Victoria Thompson
"I want to help get the girls engaged in a variety of activities throughout the school. I want to be a good ambassador for Rotorua Girls' High School and encourage the younger girls to step up."
Rotorua Lakes High School
Head girl: Jessica Gordon
"I've always been inspired by our leaders at Rotorua Lakes High School. It seemed like such an exciting opportunity to lead something so big at such a young age.
"I am looking forward to the many opportunities this role brings. It will be great to work alongside the prefects and staff in order to inspire students to thrive during their time at our school."
Head boy: Tamihana Gardiner
"I wanted to be a leader at Rotorua Lakes High School because it gives me the opportunity to set an example for students, particularly for students who have transitioned between full Maori immersion schools to mainstream education, like myself.
"This year I hope to achieve in my school work to an excellent level and also to be the best role model possible at Rotorua Lakes High School in 2015."
Rotorua Boys' High School
Head boy: Rawiri Manley
"Being a leader for the school was always in my plan. When I started in Year 9 Jordi Webber was the head boy and I remember idolising him and wanting to be a strong leader like him in my final year.
"As a prefects team we recognise there is a big gap between the Year 9 students and the Year 13 students. This year, one of our goals, along with fostering a strong sense of brotherhood, is to bridge the gap between year levels through more team building activities and tabloid days."
Co-deputy head boy: Matangireia Yates-Francis
"I always liked the idea of being a leader and I think there were a number of experiences during my time at Rotorua Boys' High School which contributed to my desire to become a leader in Year 13.
"I remember many of our past school leaders as great young men and hope to leave my own legacy at the school. We already have a very strong sense of brotherhood at Rotorua Boys' High School so this year we hope to continue that and keep the spirit alive."
Co-deputy head boy: Logan Elers (left)
"Going into Year 13 the biggest aspiration you can have is becoming a school leader. Being made a prefect was always something I had considered and worked towards during my time at Rotorua Boys' High School and I am pleased I was able to make that goal a reality this year.
"Together with Rawiri and Matangireia, I want to help the school become the most outstanding boys' high school in the country."
Western Heights High School
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Head boy: Masiu Vainikolo
"I am proud and privileged to be head boy at Western Heights High School. I bring to the position skills and experience from all that I have been involved in, and this position enables me to share this with others. My aim for this year is to continue to be involved in as many ways as possible with the school and community contributing wherever I can. In 2016, I look forward to studying at university."
Head girl: Suitenesa Falanai
"I am honoured to be head girl at Western Heights High School. I will continue to be a role model for everyone, because the purpose of a leader is to create more leaders. I want to help and support students to set goals and go about achieving these to the highest degree. One of the most important aims for me will be to achieve Level 3 with Excellence and to be well prepared to go onto university.