Last day as Year10....Hello Hello NCEA LEVEL 1....


Where we off too now...

Today was my last day being a year 10 student at Hauraki Plains College and let me tell you, it was sad.  I have made so many friends and memories with so many people in the past two years being a junior, next year some of us will be split due to our subjects we chose in October. Level 1 will mean set subjects for Semester A and Semester B.  I know what I want to do and because Music is my strength I have chosen Music and Performing Arts as a focus point for 2020.  English and History is also a strength and I have to take them so that should be fine.

Chill time with the cousins.
I'll be a "senior" next year as well with even more opportunities to challenge myself with.  This trip is hopefully going to help with developing specific skills and unique ideas to my learning for 2020, for example my yodelling, I want to use that for level one music next year!  In the weekend I learned how to play dueling banjo's with my coach. That was pretty cool I had fun doing that.  I may even do it on the guitar in Austria if I get the opportunity.

I have been thinking about senior level and how I can influence change at Hauraki Plains College.  I've decided I want to do some leadership stuff next year.  Be part of the Smokefree Tangata Beats, Showquest and looking at starting a cultural group.  We have had one appearance at a Talent Quest at school this term and I strongly believe there is a place for Pasifika at School.  We have four Niuean families at Hauraki and we worked really well together.  There is genuine interest for Pasifika at Hauraki Plains and I want to be able to share some of my Niuean and Fijian culture at school.  I have been thinking about how the school can meet my cultural needs and they dont at the moment because we dont have a lot of cultural things other than Maori.  I want to do some cultural stuff I want to teach Niuean songs.

Looking back this past year, I've come from a little teenage girl who was just busking for a few musical items, to a big (ish) teenage girl fundraising for the biggest trip of a LIFETIME.  Honestly though people keep saying to me you're going on a trip of a lifetime and when I think of it actually No.  I travel a-lot and I like exploring so this will be just another adventure for me that I know I will want to do again in the coming years.  So if I want the chance to do this again I really have to get it right this time.

Honestly I never thought I would see myself in this predicament! It's crazy to know that at 15 years old, I will be living HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD for 3 months!! I know i'm ready to leave but its just the fact that I will be so far  away from my Mum and Nan.  Mum keeps reminding me that I should always remember to celebrate my achievements and I am still learning to do that.  The feeling I have about this year is incredible.  I raised my own pocket money to go to Europe and I am still getting sponsorship I cant believe how lucky I have been.   On Sunday a man at Banjo gave me a donation to help with my trip that was humbling.

I know for a fact that I am blessed and in many ways I feel as if Papa Bua is with me always.  Shining that light and protecting me always (I really do miss you Pa). I saw on Facebook dad came through went to Japan recently.  I know Dad knows I am going to Austria but he didn't even ring or message to say hello or goodbye 💁 (doesnt surprise me good ol Buka) lol (Dad's prob still mad at me for the song i wrote about him) ehhh (In case your read this dad I hope all is well and love to my sisters).

Since the beginning of the fundraising, i've tried to mentally prepare myself, and its worked but now that I know that I literally have only NINE days left until I leave, I'm really feeling it now.  Especially today when I said goodbye to a few of my year nine mates and teachers, it made me feel really sad.

Today was kinda the last day of school because tomorrow is Year9s Prize-giving so no school for us and on Friday is Year 10 Prize-giving but we only go for Prize-giving and we are done.  Next week our Year level has Camp for 3 days I wont be attending because I will be spending time with my family and getting some downtime before I leave.  When I get to Austria I start school straight away for the fall.  The Monday coming I have Orientation for STS and I think I get given a BackPack.  After Prize-giving I am going to my Nanny Libby's for the weekend I want to spend sometime with them because I wont see them for three months.  Plus I think Nanny Lib is taking me to dinner 😊.

Tonight mum and I worked on my last bits and bobs with paperwork put them in folder and make sure we logged my trip with the NZ Safe Travel.  Mum is very particular about my pieces of papers so I have to take this folder shes put together with all my information including Insurance and Immunisation Certificate.  YESSSSS I AM IMMUNISED AND YOU SHOULD TOO IF YOUR NOT.

Reflecting on the year to date its been a mad year, I went to China of all places, people sang to me at Waikato Nesian Festival for my bdae that was hella crazy.  I went to Niue for the Arts & Cultural Fest and I actually yodelled in front of people lol.  I'm that kid who yodelled on Niue for first time ever its never been done.  I won the smoke-free rockquest heat for the Waikato region and that original was about my dad yiikes (lol haha music again) and then I received a cultural blue award at the cultural and arts prize-giving this year.  I was literally the Music Junior student for Hauraki Plains this year that was amazing.

This whole year being at Hauraki Plains College has shown me how much more I am capable of doing if only I believed in myself.  I have faced many challenges along the way which I have overcome and now I feel very confident.  It feels good.

I continue to count my blessings for I know it has been a good year.  My upmost gratitude to my mum, nan and family without you I could not have achieved what I have achieved to date.

MY CHALLENGE TO MY PEERS, MY COUSINS AND KIDS IN NIUE NEVER EVER BE AFRAID TO STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR A CHANGE.  I AM A TESTAMENT TO THAT.  I AM GOING ON AN EXCHANGE PROGRAMME IN 9 DAYS.....LIKE WTAF!!!!!

✌✌✌














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