Thomas Fielding and Alejo Linares-Fontana are the 2019 Class Act recipients for Waitaki Boys’ High School.
Thomas Fielding
Thomas Fielding
Wearing the respected black blazer at Waitaki Boys' High School is a badge of pride for Thomas Fielding.
The 17-year-old head boy tries to wear it in a way that inspires and, at times, encourages his fellow pupils to speak up.
That is what being a leader is all about, he said.
''I would like to be someone people can come to if they need help or have an issue around the school. If they need to talk to me about a problem they're having in school, or even outside of school, I am happy to lend a hand.''
Thomas says being named head boy this year was one of the highlights of his time at the school, and one that he will not forget soon.
''It was a huge honour because it's such a well-respected role.
''I've looked up to the previous head boys and thought I would never get to a position like that.''
Thomas, who lives on a sheep farm in Duntroon, has been a solid academic achiever, achieving merit in NCEA level 1 and 2 in 2017 and 2018.
While he admitted this year had been quite challenging for him, he was on track to achieve merit again in NCEA level 3.
A top athlete, Thomas has excelled in athletics, football and hockey, and has represented the school at top levels in each discipline.
He says it has kept him busy, but he has managed to juggle his sporting and academic commitments well, despite living half an hour outside Oamaru.
Thomas is also a talented musician, especially when it comes to tickling the ivories.
''I used to play a bit of piano at home when I was quite young, but never took lessons or anything.
''I got quite good at piano somehow and got runner-up in the talent quest last year.
''My sister used to play and I would sit down and play what I had just heard. I don't know what it is. I just have an ear for the tune.''
One of Thomas' greatest challenges at the moment is deciding what to do next year.
''I've looked into university, but I'm not 100% sure that's the route I want to go.
''I'm still considering my options.
''I'm keeping it quite open.''
Achievements: Head boy (2019); NCEA levels 1 and 2 with merit; red award for music (2018); senior sprint champion (2019); Aoraki secondary schools athletics championships 4x100m relay team (2019); 1st XI football (2017, 2019); 1st XI hockey (2018); black award for football (2017, 2019); black award for hockey (2019); school talent quest runner-up (2018).
Role models: My parents. They are the reason I am the guy I am today.
Hopes for the future: Just to live a happy life. I’m keeping my options open.
Alejo Linares-Fontana
Alejo Linares-Fontana
Alejo Linares-Fontana reckons it is ''just crazy'' there are people out there who have never seen a cow.
The 18-year-old Waitaki Boys' High School prefect, originally from Uruguay, lives on a dairy farm with his parents and three siblings, just south of the Waitaki River.
It is his second stint in New Zealand.
He first moved to the country with his parents in 2002 and lived here for four years, during which time his two sisters and brother were born.
After that his family spent a year in Argentina, before they returned to Uruguay in 2007.
He arrived back in New Zealand partway through the 2017 school year and has excelled both academically, and in his chosen sports.
Having lived in both big city and rural settings in his home country, he appreciates what rural living has to offer and cannot comprehend there are people who have not seen it for themselves.
''There are people that have never seen a cow in their life and I think that's just crazy.''
You would not think it to hear him speak, but English is a second language for Alejo.
Despite that, he achieved NCEA level 1 in just two terms in 2017, and last year he achieved level 2 with excellence and four subject endorsements. He is on track to level 3 with excellence this year.
It did not take Alejo long to settle in to his studies, or life in a new school.
''I just had to give it time. I made friends and could focus on school as well.''
He also embraced sport - particularly rowing and rugby.
While football was king in his home country, rugby captured his interest.
''Football is the religion over there, and then you have basketball and rugby as their second sports.
''I did play rugby there [in Florida, Uruguay].
''We had a farm there but at the beginning of year 10 I moved to Montevideo and I learned a lot more about rugby over there ... but it's nothing compared to New Zealand, though.''
Next year, he planned to study engineering at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch.
''I really like science, so it was between science and engineering. I felt with engineering, I could do a little bit of both.''
Achievements: Prefect (2019); house leader (2019); NCEA levels 1 and 2 with excellence; school awards for academic ability and all-round contribution (2018); mathematics prize (2018); speech contest winner (2018); Weddell Scull for all-round commitment to rowing (2018); 2nd XV rugby (2018); 1st XV rugby (2019).
Role models: My parents. They gave up everything to come here the first time.
Hopes for the future: I’m really keen to learn all of the stuff about climate change. It’s something I could do something about and work in a place that could do something about that. I like all of the innovation where you have to change things and the way you do things.
