Head boy - prizegiving final address

By Simi Puni | Posted: Wednesday November 1, 2023

Kia ora, talofa lava, ni sa bula vinaka, kia orana, malo e lelei, malo ni, faka alofa lahi atu, faka talofa atu, mauri, and warm pacific greetings to you students, staff and family.

My name’s Simi Puni, and for the past 12 months, I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of being the Head Prefect here for 2023. Tonight is a night of celebration. A night to celebrate the rewards and achievements that OB's boys have earned, a night to celebrate our teachers and parents that got us this far, and a night to celebrate OB’s, the school and community that us boys, teachers and parents are able to be a part of. Although for us in Year 13, alongside the celebrations comes a hint of sadness as we celebrate the end of our time here at this school.

Before I came to this school, I spent my childhood and early teenage years growing up in Australia moving from Cairns, to Canberra and then to Wagga Wagga. Because of this I was used to moving around but moving to a school in a whole new country was something that I was terrified of.

Thinking back to the first time I walked through the archway as a quiet Year 10 with a mean-as combover, all I remember was how I had planned to keep my head down and just wait for the day to finish. Go to class, do my work, get out. This plan only lasted until the next day when the boys in my Year 10 maths class noticed me keeping to myself and managed to get me out of my box. By the end of the week, I was different. I’d made friends. Friends that would last for years and found a place in a strange environment that I belonged to.

Since then, I’ve learned so much, not only from Scipads in the classroom, but from trips, sport games, hanging out at lunch and mucking around after school. So, as a Year 13 leaver, I thought I’d share a couple things that I’ve learned over the years. Firstly, I’ve learnt that hard work pays off. Growing up my mum has always told me “You reap what you sow” which means the work that you put into something is what you’ll get out as a reward. Whether it be in sports, in the classroom, or on a stage, nothing is done well unless proper time is put into it. For some of us it may be looking at our mock exam results and thinking “Imagine if I actually studied for this” or maybe it was on the sports field where you realised fitness is something you should be doing more of. Regardless of the situation, I’ve found that whenever I have put in work and tried, I miraculously did better.

I’ve learned about the sense of brotherhood and the connection that we have as OB’s boys. Growing up in Aussie, I never had that. I never had that sense of belonging that we have or the connection to other year levels. Over the years, as students at this school we have faced many challenges whether it was COVID, the strike days, the ODT, or just struggles in and out of class. Whenever something like this happened, and whenever one of us were in trouble, I found we always had a mate there to turn to. I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of this brotherhood.

The final lesson I’ve learned, and for us boys, probably the most important, is to not take the ordinary moments in our personal lives lightly. Sometimes we find ourselves looking forward for the weekend or trying to be someone that we’re not, and we overlook the simple joys, the ordinary moments that we have. Whether it’s a spontaneous conversation with someone you’ve just met or chucking a ball around at lunchtime with your boys, it’s these ordinary, everyday moments where we seem to find our true selves. Our passions, talents, and dreams will often be revealed when we allow ourselves to be fully present in the moment.

So, boys, I ask that we not take these ordinary moments lightly. Let’s cherish the simplicity of a shared joke, the comfort of sitting with your boys, the beauty of walking past the castle each morning, and even the time spent in class. Life isn’t all about the massive occasions. It’s about the quiet moments that surround us every day.

In Samoa there’s a famous quote that goes like this “e lē sili le ta’i, nai lo le tapua’i” which in English translates to “the people supporting are just as important as those who are working”.

I’d like to thank a few people. Firstly, thank you to our staff, for the time, effort, and dedication you put into us boys from helping us with simple problems in class, to organising trips and coaching us in different sports; we are truly grateful. To the parents here tonight, especially mum, for the ongoing and never-ending love and support. For dealing with our attitudes, laziness, and everything else that we tend to bring.

To Matthew, Hamish, and our prefect team; thank you. It’s been great being able to work alongside you guys this year. And finally, to the Year 13 boys, thank you for the memories and life lessons that I’ve been able to learn from you. It’s been a pleasure. The things we’ve been able to achieve and experience together is something that I’ll always remember.

As we finish our time here, I ask you all to embrace the moment we’re in right now because as Master Oogway once said, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”