Ben Hamlin
Ben Hamlin
Service over self is how Ben Hamlin approaches life.
The Taieri College head prefect has been part of scouts since he was 8, a hobby which has taught him valuable skills.
"Scouts has made me confident and capable of engaging in community, in politics, and with other people.
"Being chief scout especially helped me with building communication and leadership skills."
Ben has worked his way up the ranks of scouting, and is a venturer, leading others in the activity.
"I run activities for other young ones so I completed a first-aid course.
"In venturers, you can create your own modules and learn about what you want to learn about, like life skills or things which interest you."
Ben hoped to gain his Queen’s Scout by the end of this year, the highest youth award in the scouting movement.
The award required community involvement, adventurous activities, personal growth and leadership development.
"I’m also doing my Duke of Edinburgh and my gold venturer’s award."
Sleep was the sacrifice in his busy schedule, which involved focusing on giving back to the community.
"You give to community, they’ll give back to you.
"It’s a symbiotic relationship."
He was nominated for and attended the Powering Potential conference in Wellington last year, where pupils from across the country shared innovative solutions to some of the big questions facing both the science and technology industries.
Hockey is another passion of Ben’s. He captained the first XI hockey team at his school last year.
Next year, he thought he would study for a chemistry or biochemistry degree at the University of Otago, and possibly become an industrial chemist or enter a military or political role.
"I have some options but I find the more you think about it [the future], the less of an idea you have."
Ben hoped to continue holding leadership roles through politics, regardless of his career path.
Achievements: Head prefect (2020); NCEA level 1 and 2 with excellence; peer mediator (2019); CEO for the Young Enterprise Scheme (2019); student council (2019); board of trustees student representative (2018-20); science communication three-day workshop (2019); Duke of Edinburgh award (2017); captain of 1st XI hockey (2019-20); young athletes development programme for hockey (2018); Mosgiel Venturer Group chairman (2018-20); peer mediator (2019-20); adult leaders leadership course (2019).
Role model: I like taking the good parts of people and making a role model out of that
Hopes for the future: Get into politics at some point.
Tabitha Littlejohn
Tabitha Littlejohn
Whether it is behind the scenes or on stage, Tabitha Littlejohn is a true thespian.
The 17-year-old Taieri College head prefect discovered her love for theatre in 2015.
"My dad used to do things with the [fire station] theatre and then I got involved after ushering for a show.
"I jumped on their committee and have stuck around since."
Tabitha said she loved exploring big topics through theatre.
"You get to present an idea exactly how you intend to.
"It’s the same with music. You can kind of say here’s how it is, this is my interpretation of something."
Music is her other passion. She has been learning the guitar for 10 years.
"I’ve done a few open mics [with the guitar]."
She had also hosted a show on Otago Access Radio since she was in year 9.
"I first saw it in a school newsletter and decided to take up the option.
"I think it’s important to utilise the opportunities that come along."
Her creative side does not stop there.
Tabitha also has an affinity for script writing, and received an iTicket scholarship for script writing talent.
Last year, she wrote a script for a five-minute sketch and worked with other scriptwriters to produce a show, which took place in February.
Tabitha said she hoped to make ideas easily understandable through theatre.
"I think it comes down to having a concept you want to share in some form and then doing it in a way that is accessible to people in a different way from having a conversation."
Science was another area Tabitha excelled in. This year she is taking chemistry, maths, music, drama, physics and English.
Next year, she was tossing up between further study at the University of Otago for a bachelor of science and a bachelor of arts degree, or taking a gap year to spend time in acting and drama production.
"I just want to keep doing things that I like, and I guess that’s what I want for the future ... to keep doing what I enjoy."
Achievements: Head prefect (2020); NCEA level 1 and 2 endorsed with excellence (2018-19); music endorsed with excellence (2018); music, mathematics and English endorsed with excellence (2019); Otago Access Radio show (2016-20); fire station theatre member (2016-20); iTicket upcoming talent scholarship (2019); peer mediator (2018-20); 1st in drama (2019); 1st in media studies (2018); school award for contribution to drama, contribution to peer mediation (2019); academic and performing arts blues (2018-19); Otago theatresports competition (2018-19); arts and students’ council (2017-20).
Role model: People who display kindness and are accepting.
Hopes for the future: Keep doing theatre and science.
