Students succeed despite adversity2 min read

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Students at our local high schools have shown amazing resilience amidst adversity, with top academic students being recognised at their school’s prizegivings.

In keeping with what has been an extraordinary school year, our local high schools have adapted or postponed their traditional annual prizegiving events. Marcellin College chose to hold a restricted ceremony for their Year 13 students, with only immediate family attending, while Onehunga High School held an online ceremony, with students who were at school watching from their Kaitiaki classes. One Tree Hill College have postponed their event until there is more certainty.

The 2021 Onehunga High School High Achievers were named as Pakeeza Ali, Paige Campbell, Acura Chukau, Hannah Clague, Olano Khadija, Vanessa Ly and Hinemoa Nathan. The ceremony can be viewed on the school’s website. Go to my.ohs.school/upcoming-events/2021-senior-prizegivings.

Marcellin’s 2021 Dux was Vlayla Cawis, who is heading to Auckland University to study Health Science, with the goal of gaining entry to Medical School. She says she hopes to pursue a career in Psychiatry  

Vlayla says the key to maintaining her studies under the stress of lockdown was time management and keeping a good balance. She made sure that, alongside her studies, she also included time to relax and pursue her hobbies. It did take her a while to adjust, but “I told myself I had to focus to reach the goals I wanted.”

Marcellin’s Proxime Accessit, Ezra Elle Galang, also agrees that time management was important. She says all the emails and Zoom meetings could be overwhelming, so she would break it all down into small pieces and tackle things one by one. 

Ezra has still not decided on what career she will ultimately pursue, but is heading to AUT next year to study Psychology. She says as a prefect and student leader, supporting her friends and helping juniors was one of the highlights of her year and was one of the reasons she chose to study Psychology.

Both Ezra and Vlayla say the support of their families was vital to their success, as well as keeping in touch with friends, even if it was only online. Ezra saying she believes that making sure they kept in touch helped make everyone stronger.

 

Marcellin’s 2021 Dux, Vlayla Cawis

Marcellin’s Proxime Accessit, Ezra Elle Galang

OHS High Achievers, Pakeeza Ali, Paige Campbell, Acura Chukau, Hannah Clague, Olano Khadija, Vanessa Ly and Hinemoa Nathan, with Principal Deidre Shea