Prizegiving Address

St Bede’s College Sports Prizegiving Address 2009 - Michael Stewart

Good afternoon Mr Boyle, Staff and fellow Bedeans. I have been asked to talk to you this afternoon about my time at St Bede’s College and some of my achievements both on and off the field.

One of the best lessons I have learnt throughout my years here has been how to prioritise my various commitments on a day to day and week to week basis. The end result has been to hopefully get a good balance in school life with the academic work and my sporting endeavours.

My academic goals have been to attain achievement of merits and excellence grades in most of my classes so that I may gain entrance to Canterbury University where I aim to study Law.

My realisation that although sport is paramount in my life, and if the opportunity arises to become a professional rugby player that is a fantastic bonus, but next year my academic studies will be my main focus and sport will become secondary. Being able balance my work and social time is also very important. The biggest sacrifice this year would undoubtedly be my free time and social life. During the hardest moments of the year I was training far more than I was sleeping.

An example of how busy things can get and how you need to be well organised would be a typical day in Term 1. I would be up at 6am to train at the CRFU then come to school, after school there was Volleyball training followed by dragon boating and from there I would shoot straight to work until 11:00pm and then complete my homework and assignments after that. A tough ask but the rewards have been worth it.

One of the main reasons why I attempt so many different sports and activities in my life is so I don’t waste any of my talents by idly sitting around and not achieving my true potential. It is also a great way to improve my athleticism and skills across all sports as they benefit one another. I felt it is important as young sportsman to try as many different sports as possible while you can and not to specialise too early at school.

An example of this was when Steve Hansen, All Blacks Coach, was running a lineout session with me at NZ U17’s at the Rugby Academy in Palmerston North. He asked me how I managed such high vertical jumps and what I did to get so good. I told him that it was because I played volleyball. At the end he pulled me aside and told menever to give that up as it was so advantageous to my locking and rugby skills.

I have had great advantages by attending St Bede’s College there have been so many opportunities to be involved in so many aspects of school life. I also appreciate all the support from staff who never gave up on me when I missed their classes for tournaments and matches, and who gave me opportunities to catch up on work by accommodating me in some deadlines. These are the classes that I am gaining merits and excellences in now.

I would like to thank all my teachers, coaches and managers for supporting and encouraging me along the way and I look forward keeping in close touch with the College in future years.

Finally I would like to present Mr Boyle and the College with my jersey from the New Zealand Secondary Schools campaign this year in the hope that it will inspire other Bedeans as have been, in years to come.