Mangere College 2020 Magazine

Head Girl’s Report
Ae oute le’i asaina le nata i fale o aana lea na pisia ai
vae o le nofoa fia o Lilomaiava, e ao ina ou faatulou.
Tulou, tulou, tulouna lava. Lulu atu outou paia ma outou
mamalu o le a le o’o iai se faamatalaga.
O a’u o Herilla Victoria Salu Finauga,
oute mimita lava i lo’u aganu’u ma
lo’u gagana.
First and foremost, all the glory and
praise be to the Most High, who has
blessed me beyond measure.
Four years ago I entered the front
gates, scared, isolated and extremely
nervous. It is difficult to describe
what has been a rollercoaster of
a journey for us all. Whether you
arrived at the very start of Year
9 or joined us along the way -
undoubtedly our experiences have
brought us together as a family.
The class of 2020. What a year this
has been for us. Thank you everyone
for your patience and perseverance
throughout the year. Despite
COVID 19 being in the way of many
opportunities and activities, we
managed to fight through it and
created the most memorable year
for us all.
I have overcome a lot of barriers
this year, and I am proud to say that
due to the unconditional lectures
and daily prayers from my parents,
the support system from my family,
I was able to complete the year
as your Head Girl of 2020. A goal
that I had aimed for, and now have
achieved.
My fellow students of Māngere
College, it does not matter whether
you’re academically skilful or
physically skilful or both. Believe
in yourself and have a positive
mindset. Make careful choices,
so that your choices will reflect
positively on yourself and the course
of your actions will take you further
in life. The teachers at this school
have helped me grow into the
person I am today and for that, I am
very grateful. The Māngere College
family has helped me strengthen
my cultural values and embrace my
talents.
There are so many of you I would
like to give credit to, for making
this journey a memorable one. You
have shaped and moulded me
into the bold person I am today. I
acknowledge my subject teachers
who pushed me to the limit, to
complete assessments and made
sure I went home with a bulk of
homework to do. Also, to my friends
who motivated me to run for Head
Girl, and always complimented my
mum’s tuna sandwiches, thank you
for being by my side.
Thank you Mr Webb for believing
in me and trusting me as your
Head Girl for 2020. Thank you Mrs
Ah Sam. A mother figure to us all,
a matriarch to the school and an
influential woman at heart. You
continue to inspire me and always
push me beyond limits. Mālo Le
tautua Mama.
Thank you to all the teachers
at Māngere College who have
supported me through my time and
who continue to be an inspiration
for our students.
Finally, my deepest gratitude to
the two people who believed in
me and invested in my dreams
right from the start. My parents
are my ultimate role models and
my driving force in life. As migrants
from Samoa, they sacrificed their
home to come to New Zealand to
find a better future for me and my
siblings. Because of you, I am who I
am today.
As my final encouragement to our
students, I would like to leave with
you a little thought in mind. No
matter where life takes you, never
forget the sacrifices your parents
made to get you this far in life. The
future belongs to those who are
prepared for it. Set your goals, work
hard to achieve them and continue
to ‘Seek the Heights .’
Faafetai Lava Kolisi o Magele, mālo
le tautua mālo tautai.
- Herilla Salu
10 Māngere College - 2020