Head Boy 2024. Like in previous years, Schools That Rock interview Head Leaders of High Schools in South Africa. Today we also learn more about Michael Potgieter, Head Boy 2024 from Curro Creston College, KwaZulu Natal.
Michael, tell us more about yourself and your leadership.
- I’m Michael Potgieter, Head Boy 2024 of Creston College in Port Shepstone. I was born here on the South Coast and lived here my whole life. I started my school career in Suid Natal Primary School in Port Shepstone. When I had to choose a high school, I’ve decided to come to Creston College. Initially it was a bit of an adjustment to change over from Afrikaans to English, but it did not take long to get used to it. I love sports and take part in all the available sports at our School. My other love is music, both piano and singing in the choir. I would say, I’m more of a servant leader. I like to see that all the learners in our school excel in what they do. Therefore I encourage the learners to take part in all activities at the school. It is also important to take other peoples’ ideas and opinions into account and to incorporate them into our overall plans for the year. People buy in to ideas if they feel that they have made a contribution.
What are your personal goals for this year?
- My goal as Head Boy 2024, is to make the most of this last year at school. I want to ensure that, when I leave the school at the end of the year, that the school is better off then what it was a year ago. I want to make sure that I take part in as many activities as possible, but also ensure that I get the marks that will help me achieve my goal of getting into a good university and study towards Structural Engineering.
Tell us more about your goals for Creston College for your term of service?
- One of my main goals, as Head Boy 2924, were to improve communication at the school. To do this, we have introduced “Communities” on the Whatsapp platform. and already we can see an improvement. My second goal would be to inspire the younger grades to take part in school activities and to bring fun back to school. A project that I have been working on, was to redesign the area where we spend our breaks. My dream is to create a space where we could have activities like chess, table tennis, or just a more interesting place to have breaks, but all of these things need to be outside in the open, so it needs to be weather proof.
What were the biggest challenges you experienced as a learner of your school?
- I think most of us would say the Covid pandemic. We were in Grade 8, our foundation year in the high school, when Covid struck. It was especially difficult for me, because I had to build new relationships, and then we had to go sit at home for a whole Semester. Coming back was almost like starting all over with Grade 8.
What stands out most to you at your school?
- One of the best things at our school is that we embrace diversity. We allow people to be themselves and we don’t judge them. Because we are a smaller school, all the learners know each other and mix with each other. There is not this dividing thing between the different grades.
Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?
- I look up to people who have integrity and stand by their values, no matter what. In the words of Bob Marley “The greatness of a man is not how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively”. So, I look up to people who have a positive impact on my life and who leads with positivity.
Michael, you’re a kitchen article? What are you and why?
- I think I am a countertop. The workspace that the other people work on top of to create things. I always try to create environments for others to improve and thrive to lay the foundation for the new generation of leaders. A countertop does not need to have all the gadgets and technology as long as it is like a rock and not like sand that can wash away.
How would your friends describe you?
- Competitive. I like winning, but I’m not a sore loser. I am truly happy for the person who wins if it was not me. For example: If someone else were to have gotten this leadership position I still would have been happy for them as I know I have great leaders around me.
What motivates you to achieve your goals?
- It comes from within. I like doing well and achieve what I set out for myself.
Why would you advise learners to also become part of Creston College?
- Creston College lives by our values of, Knowledge, Vision, and Harmony. It is a school where you are not just a number, you are noticed. I really do feel that the school provides quality education, and we have the best facilities on the South Coast right now.
Who is your favourite teacher and why?
- All the teachers at Creston have played a role in helping me become who I am today. I have learned something from each of them. I really can’t single out one of them. In terms of the word teacher, it does not mean that they have to work at the school. It could be anyone who has taught me something, so my favourite teachers would be my parents.
What are your future goals?
- A person’s dreams change all the time. It is not the same as it was ten years ago, It could be two years ago or maybe even yesterday but for my dreams of today is that I want to complete my Engineering studies and then maybe go overseas and explore other countries, if I can make a difference in the world.
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