The Last Word
By Henry Chittock | Posted: Monday February 16, 2026
It's pretty surreal standing up here as a Year 13 in my final year at OBHS.
When you first start school, leadership is something that you don't really think about. You just look up to the seniors and assume they’ve got everything figured out, but now, as a senior, I've realised that wasn’t anything close to the truth. You think leaders are the loud ones, the popular ones, the ones in the top sporting teams.
But over the past few years at this school, I've realised leadership looks very different from that. Leadership isn’t about a badge on your blazer; it’s about the standards you set when no one’s watching.
It’s the way you train after a busy week.
The way you talk to your teammates after a tough loss.
The way you carry yourself in the classroom when things aren’t going your way.
The way you talk to the juniors in between classes.
These things matter and make a difference.
For example, before I started at OBHS, I was watching my older brother's rowing regatta in Twizel when I met a boy who was a Year 13 at the time. He asked me if I was going to OBHS and if I was going to give rowing a try. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but later on I realised how a small conversation between a senior and someone who hadn’t even started yet made a difference to my outlook on starting at a new school. Boys like this are perfect examples of leadership and how making conversation with juniors can make a difference in their lives.
Some of the best leaders in this school aren’t the ones standing in the spotlight; they’re the ones doing the small things right, day in and day out. They show up every day, they put in the hard work, and they are consistently setting high standards. One thing Otago Boys’ does well is give you opportunities to lead, whether that's in sport, culture, academics, or just day-to-day life. But leadership isn’t something you’re given in Year 9; you earn it through your five years of hard graft, and it becomes natural to set the standard and be someone the younger boys look up to.
Sometimes you don’t even realise you’re leading. It might just be staying behind to pack gear away or making sure no one's left out when picking teams in P.E. But boys and teachers notice that stuff. Respect comes from what you do, not from the title you’ve got.
When one person lifts the standard, others follow. That's how culture is built, that’s how brotherhood is strengthened, and that's how a school like Otago Boys’ maintains its reputation.
So to the younger boys — don't wait for a title to lead. Lead through perseverance, lead through respect, lead through how you treat others. Be the good bugger who gets along with everyone, and be the boy who leads by example.
In OBHS fashion, I’ll end with a quote:
“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” — Ralph Nader
