Who do you want to be when you leave high school?Courageous? Respectful? Committed? Persevering?

Marian graduates leave with much more than just their NCEA qualifications. They leave as faith-filled, confident, and compassionate young women.

Kia ora,My name is Seyara De Silva, I’m a Year 13 student, and I’m honoured to serve as the Head Student of Marian College for 2026. It is my utmost privilege to be speaking with all of you today.

My Marian journey started in the very same seats many of you are sitting in now, on Open Day in 2021 — nervous, excited, and unsure of what high school would look like.

The transition to high school can feel a little daunting. Suddenly your classes are in different places, you’re reading from a timetable, and there are seniors with cars and jobs. But I can confidently say that Marian makes this transition incredibly smooth.

One of the most special things about Marian is that every single staff member and student genuinely cares about you. This makes all the difference. It becomes so much easier to say yes, try new things, and be courageous when you know you have an entire community backing you.

Throughout my time at our beautiful kura, I’ve immersed myself in many aspects of school life.. Special Character, Young Vinnies, Debating, Ethics Olympiad, Kapa Haka, Choir, and Netball. Every opportunity has allowed me to learn from the incredible young women around me.

No matter which club or activity I stepped into as a Year 9, I was always met with supportive smiles from older students. Over the past few years, I’ve tried my best to reflect those same smiles back to our juniors — maybe even a little wider. 

Some of my biggest highlights have been opportunities like the Bishop Lyons Public Speaking Competition, Feast Day, and organising the 24 Hour Caritas Move It Challenge. Before high school, I never would have imagined experiences like raising over $25,000 through Caritas to support people living in poverty, learning how to debate, or even flying to Sydney to meet student leaders from across Australia.

But above all of those achievements, my greatest highlight has been the genuine friendships I’ve made across year levels. The sisterhood at Marian is something truly special.

One thing I love most about Marian is that every girl is encouraged to participate, contribute, and grow. Whether your strengths are academic, sporting, cultural, creative, or service-based, there is truly a place for everyone here.

As a Catholic school, our faith is woven into everyday life. It teaches us to uplift others, live with kindness and integrity, and use our gifts in service of the people around us. My favourite quote from Mary MacKillop , “Never see a need without doing something about it,” is something I will always treasure.

So to all of the future Marian students here tonight, I want to leave you with a few simple pieces of advice:

Love learning. Be curious. Challenge yourself.Build good habits and work hard, even when things feel difficult.Live through your faith and values. And most importantly, take every opportunity presented to you.

Join the sports team. Audition for the choir. Enter the competition. Talk to new people. Say yes to experiences, even when they scare you.

As the days count down towards graduation, I couldn’t feel more grateful for my experience at Marian. While my cohort will not be here when many of you join the Marian whānau next year, I can say with complete confidence that you will be in incredibly good hands among the staff and students of Marian College.

 I’d now like to leave you with the same question I began with:

Who do you want to be when you leave high school?

Whoever that person is, I can assure you that Marian College will help you become her.

Thank you, and may God bless you all.

Article added: Thursday 14 May 2026