What John McGlashan College Means to me

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They are to be commended for their courage to share their thoughts about what the college means to them and to step out of their comfort zones. You can read the transcripts of their speeches below:

Kia ora everyone my name is Lucas Hale and I am a year 9 day boy here at John McGlashan, and I have been here since year 7. 

I feel very privileged to be a John McGlashan man. All of the students, teachers and facilities make it an amazing space for students like me to learn, grow and create lifelong friendships. That is why I am very excited to have the opportunity to share my thoughts about the school with you all today.

Firstly, what is the best thing about being a student at our school? Every time I think about this question my brain keeps jumping back to the same answer that everyone talks about, the opportunities. At our school we have a very diverse range of opportunities, stemming from endless categories such as sports, the arts and academia to name a few. All of these opportunities allow students to branch out and try new things, but most importantly it gives everybody a place at our school. Another thing that ensures that everybody has a place is the people. All of the people at our school (all staff and students) create a healthy atmosphere that makes us all feel at home. It is the people that truly make an impact. Now I will share with you a Maori proverb that I first learnt about from one of our chapel services, “He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.” This translates to, what is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

Now if I had to describe our school, I would say that it is a positive environment filled with a bunch of amazing people. In this environment everyone helps each other to grow because we are brothers. I would also say that our school is privileged. We are privileged not only because of our amazing facilities and staff, but also because here at John Mcglashan everyone feels the sense of brotherhood.

When talking about values at our school, I believe that the most important ones are respect, kindness and responsibility. At our school we should show respect and kindness to everyone. Sometimes this just means being polite to your teachers, or holding the door open for your mates. Responsibility is a very important value. We are very privileged to be at this school, and with this privilege we have to take responsibility for our learning and work to the best of our abilities. Our school focuses heavily on responsibility and we can see that through the quote that is above the entrance to the ELC (Edgar Learning Centre.) “From those to whom much has been given, much will be expected.” It is important to remember that we shouldn't only show these values at school, we should also strive to uphold these values in public so that we have a good reputation and it makes us better men. My year 8 form teacher Mr Hore had a saying that I will remember forever. “We should all strive to be a better man every day.” This is a great quote to live by, and upholding our school’s values makes us better men.

In the future I hope that all the students know the privilege that they have, being at this school, and that they take on the responsibility of this with courage. I hope that everybody at our school takes our values seriously, so that we can all grow together and become better men.

Lucas Hale (Year 9)

My name is Noah Konia and I feel privileged to be up here tonight speaking to you all. I’m currently finishing my third year at JMC.  My parents decided to shift our family from Wanaka to Dunedin, so that I could have a rich education here at John McGlashan. My uncle attended this school, and I am proud to continue my family's tradition here.

The best thing about being a student at John McGlashan College are the countless opportunities and the endless support from staff.  The staff are so invested in our learning and want us to have the best experience possible. Teachers are always looking out for opportunities for us so we can rise, and thrive to be the best versions of ourselves we can be. An example of this is that I was able to compete in the National Nga Manu Korero speaking competition earlier this year, thanks to the support from Whaea Clark.  I am grateful for this moment and many other ones that have been afforded to me.

If I had to describe John McGlashan College to someone, I would call it an awesome school, characterised by outstanding opportunities, unwavering support from teachers, and a strong sense of brotherhood. This atmosphere is evident wherever you go around the College, both in and outside the classroom, and is one of the many reasons I love coming to JMC every day.

The one value that I think needs working on most is definitely respect. Sometimes, the boys get out of hand, and they don't really respect the people or the awesome facilities we're lucky to have. I feel like this is important so that everyone feels safe here, and so we actually look after the incredible environment that make our learning better.

Looking toward the future, I hope John McGlashan College will continue to inspire young men to strive for excellence and become the best versions of themselves. I am confident that the men of the future will consistently go out of their way to look out for others and show deep respect for their peers and the College itself. To those future young men of JMC: wear that crest on your chest with immense pride.

Noah Konia (Year 9)

Kā mihi nui, Lucas and Noah