From the Rector

‘Me, we’ – celebrating our individuality and interconnectedness.

These two simple words were spontaneously delivered by the American boxing great, Muhammad Ali, when his audience requested a poem at a 1975 Harvard lecture. It is now officially recognised as the shortest poem by the Guinness Book of Records. These words capture the importance of knowing who you are as an individual, yet still being positively connected to your wider community.

As with most poetry, it is open to interpretation. To me, it’s a poem (during the turbulent 1960s) which speaks of unity and togetherness. One man fights for dignity in the ring, a society fights for dignity on earth. It speaks to the important role of individuals within the context of a larger group. I can’t be me until we are we.

It is the shortest, and to me, one of the most evocative poems in sport history. I chose to reflect on this poem in light of both the individual and collective success I have seen and experienced at St Andrew’s College over my first two terms.

Learning is part of life. Learning allows us to grow, achieve, and create our sense of personal identity and purpose. In modern education we speak about ‘personalised learning’, which recognises students as unique individuals who can learn in different ways (for example, their learning needs, interests, and capability determine the depth and pace of learning). St Andrew’s seeks to help each student achieve their potential and find their future pathways. Yet as this poem reminds us, none of this happens in isolation.

As a school community, we celebrate the success of our individuals. At the very start of this year, we had our Prefects Investiture and Leadership Assembly acknowledging those senior students taking up formal leadership roles and responsibility with the expectation of them leading through service to the wider College. Then our Academic Assembly celebrated outstanding individual achievements in the 2024 NCEA qualifications and New Zealand Scholarships. Also, the regular editions of Regulus celebrate many stunning examples of individual talent and accomplishments across a wide range of diverse areas.

Such personal achievement does not happen in isolation – it requires natural talent and personal dedication, but success also relies on the support, guidance, and nurturing of family, friends, teachers, coaches, and mentors. ‘Me, we' is a simple articulation that everything is interconnected and our main purpose in life is to become truly conscious of this and then live accordingly. Our personal achievement is a result of the support of others, and we too must contribute to the success of others around us.

Our achievements as a ‘we’ are evident in our many and varied successes in our team and group opportunities – whether on the sports field, on the stage with the Performing Arts, or working as a group. When ‘we’ come together to share and combine our skills and talents, as a team, we are capable of achieving so much more. High performing teams and individuals can inspire others around them to ‘shine’, to overcome their insecurities and strive to become the best version of themselves. Success however can bring responsibilities, as a person becomes an example to others and can contribute to a culture of achievement within a community.

As American actor, Leonard Nimoy (who played Spock in Star Trek), aptly reflected on life: “The miracle is this: the more we share the more we have.” Thank you to our St Andrew’s staff, parents, and community who share and give so our young students may flourish and grow.

Mark Wilson
Rector