Votualevu College students in Nadi have been told that good leaders led from the front and that leadership was about serving.

The reminder came from the chief guest at the college’s prefects’ in­duction ceremony last Friday, Edu­cation Officer for Nadi/Lautoka/Yasawa District, Ashita Sharma.

She began by branding the school’s 2018 prefect body as the new face of Votualevu College.

“To lead is to serve. So a good lead­er is not someone who throws his/her weight around and has very little to show for. Good leaders lead from the front,’’ Ms Sharma said.

“They show the way and how things are to be done. They set the examples so that others may follow. Leadership is about serving. As leaders you and I must have a posi­tive attitude to serve and not expect to be served.”

She said student leadership and participation meant that a prefect played an active role in decision-making across the school spec­trum.

“Together you should lead a team that will participate in decision making about the whole school organisation and management in consultation with the teachers,’’ Ms Sharma said.

“Identify problems that would need attention, raise awareness of school priorities to enhance stu­dent well-being, lead specific pro­grammes and represent student ideas and opinions.

“But above all, uphold your duties with respect, responsibility and personal best.

“You put your heart, mind and soul into even your smallest acts.

“This is the secret of your suc­cess. As the newly-elected prefects’ team, your actions will inspire oth­ers to dream more, learn more, do more and become more.”

The highlight of the induction ceremony was the naming of the top four positions of headboy and his deputy; and headgirl and her deputy.

Arishma Chand, 18, is following in her father’s footsteps who was headboy at the than Nadi high school, Maharishi Sanatan College in 1992.

“I feel really honoured to be given this responsibility,’’ Arishma said. And, she went to explain that she had been in lesser roles before be­ing elevated to the post of headgirl.

“Looking at my father’s achieve­ment I wanted to be in that role, too. Since 2014 in Year 10, I have been taking lead roles in the school.”

Arishma is a pure science student and wishes to undertake a career in medicine.

“I am very confident and con­sider it prudent that when all of us – parents, students, teachers, the Government and the community at large – work together as a team to properly educate the students to­day, our beloved nation will be the ultimate winner because we will be the leaders of tomorrow,” she said.

Aadarsh Kumar is the headboy and has been inspired by his elder sister, who is a dentist.

“The support I get from home is the most motivating treasure I en­joy,” Aadarsh said.

“Our duty remains that in future we shall instill discipline from the student council to the students.”

The school has a total roll of 592 students of whom 261 are males. The student council has 64 mem­bers.

Edited by George Kulamaiwasa