Thank you to recent Old Boy Hemi Pinfold-Whanga who joined us for assembly this morning. Hemi attended Boys’ High from 2018 – 2022 and was in Phoenix Club, and was Club Captain and a school Prefect in his final year.
Hemi was involved in a diverse range of activities while at school. He won the Korimako Senior English section of the Ngā Manu Kōrero regional speech competition and competed in the national finals, he was the Youth MP for Palmerston North at the 2022 New Zealand Youth Parliament, competed in public speaking events, led the annual Fred Hollows appeal, played basketball, volleyball, squash and rugby, contested the annual PNBHS Bowls Championships, was involved in the Puhoro STEM programme, completed the Crest to Crest, was in the Super Eight Theatresports team and volunteered to support a number of community organisations such as the Weetbix Tryathlon, Just Zilch and the NZ Blood Service through the Barrowclough Programme.
Last week was Schools’ Pride Week Aotearoa. Now in its fifth year, Schools’ pride Week is about taking a strengths-based approach to combatting rainbow-focused bullying and discrimination and this was the rationale for the Prefect’s extending an invitation to Hemi to join us at assembly.
Hemi spoke about the challenges he faced navigating the complexities of growing up while coming to realise that he isn’t straight. He delivered a powerful message about the importance of being yourself – you don’t need to fit into the box that some in society might try and impose on you. Hemi also spoke about the importance of supporting of supporting your mates so that they can be themselves.
Rainbow is an umbrella term describing people of diverse sexualities, genders, and variations of sex characteristics. Rainbow people are a normal part of society and the communities, teams and groups that we are all part of. As is the case for any of us, it is important that rainbow people see themselves reflected at school so they know they are accepted as themselves and can thrive.
Schools, as with any group, institution or organisation, should be safe places for all members of our community. Unfortunately, that is not always the case and that is why events such as Schools’ Pride Week Aotearoa are important.
Respect | Tū Whakaaute, one of our school values, is about showing consideration to other people. It is about valuing people for who they are. It is about having empathy and understanding that we are all different and unique. It is about celebrating and recognising that diversity as a strength in our community.
Thank you again to Hemi for joining us today to share his story and some important messages for all of us.
