“I want to make my father proud” — Saheel leads Valebasoga prefects

I want to make my father proud.

Those were the heartfelt words of 18-year-old Saheel Nair after he was inducted as head boy of Valebasoga Secondary School in Labasa yesterday.

For the Year 13 student, the moment was more than a leadership appointment — it was a personal triumph.

“I feel proud to be here and serve my school,” Saheel said.

“Last year I was a senior prefect. With strong academic results and leadership skills, I am honoured to become head boy,” he said.

“This day feels special to me. I was brought up alone and today reminds me of my strength. I want to make my father proud.”

Saheel was among 25 students inducted as prefects during the ceremony, marking the start of a new leadership year for the school.

He said leadership roles have helped build his confidence and sense of responsibility.

“We have all been given roles and I truly want to serve and I would like to thank my teachers,” he said.

Seventeen-year-old Katarina Mocemaitoga was inducted as head girl. She previously served as deputy head girl last year.

“I would like to thank Almighty God for giving me the strength to be here,” Katarina said.

She said balancing academic work and leadership responsibilities had been challenging but rewarding.

“This year my goal is to serve my school. I am thankful for this opportunity and grateful to my teachers for having faith in me,” she said.

School principal Pradip Singh said the school recorded a 100 per cent pass rate for Year 12 and Year 13 students last year, reflecting a strong culture of academic and leadership excellence.

For Saheel, the badge pinned to his uniform symbolises more than authority — it represents resilience, responsibility and a promise to lead with purpose.