AGS India Immersion Programme 2017/18

To Nikau E tama, e tama, e tupu ana e pihi ana, Ō pakiaka he mea tupu, he mea whanake ki te rangi mai te whenua, Tō tinana he hā ki ngā hau e kore e taea te whakaueue, He ruruhau, he marumaru koe mo tō whānau, tō Hapū, tō iwi... If I had the opportunity to speak to my Third Form self, I probably wouldn't step any further than mentioning a few warm words of advice and encouragement. For most, if not all young people, entering high school can be a difficult time. Especially going to a place like Grammar you can be sure to feel some form of intimidation towards the place. After looking back at my own knowledge and experience, now writing as an Old Boy of the school, I'd probably say to him these things: 1.) Enjoy, young grasshopper - Your time at Grammar is very short, so grasp on to every opportunity that presents itself. But more importantly, enjoy the little moments. For it is all these little moments that will eventually accumulate to make up your five year term with the fine...

To Josh Hamilton, I am writing to you now 4 years on to provide you with some advice for your Grammar journey. You have chosen simply the most exciting and action packed path to go down for this next chapter of your life. You might not see that you have yet but trust me it is. I shouldn't spoil your possible future so I'll just stick with some wise words - that may or may not affect my life at the moment. Take what you have learnt from you intermediate years at school and apply those to your studies and your interactions with others so that you have a solid platform that you then can build off later in school.  When opportunities rise, take them. Within reason, take everyone. I can honestly say I let a few slip by - don't let that happen to you.  You will make mistakes. That is okay though. With mistakes there is learning, so I encourage you to not be afraid to make more mistakes in the next 4 years because if anything you will learn something from each one ...

Let's start by saying a big "Happy New Year" to each of you, wherever you are celebrating/recovering today. It would be fair to say our New Years was a bit different to yours.  Having danced until 1.30am with hundreds of Indian men,  New Years Eve on the Goan beach was one that we're sure the boys will never forget.  The day started out with the 'Great Shave Off' which consisted of each boy getting shaved twice over (just for good luck) by some Indian barbers who used the old school single blades. Then things  became a little strange for each group member when mud packs were applied, facial steamers were heated up, gel masks were pasted on and torn off, and a head and neck massage which felt more like an assault was 'executed'. In short, it was a violation of each participant's face. To forget the trauma, a huge group game of beach football followed that evening until the light had faded.  We then proceeded to hit up Papillon, one...

Lachie, you are about to embark on a life changing journey in which you are in control of. I can't tell you what's going to happen but here's what I do know: You are going to make some big mistakes. But mistakes help you learn and become a better person from the experience. You are going to learn you are a small fish swimming in the big ocean, keep working hard and you will be recognised. Don't sweat all the small things. Sometimes it will build up unnecessary stress that you don't need. You are going to be hit with a number of opportunities. Take them and make the most of them, as they could change your life. You are going to meet some awesome people, influential people and some not so awesome people. Surround yourself with the awesome and influential people. Most of all Lachie, enjoy yourself. If you wake up everyday and dread the day that is about to start, something needs to change. Don't get caught up in having to be someth...

  To Leo   As you begin the third form, you are bound to have a lot of questions. Coming from a school as small as St Kents, grammar will seem like an almost impossible task, however with this advice you should be fine. Firstly, don't stress out. One thing that you are bound to do is not realise that everyone is on the same boat. All five hundred boys are equally as stressed as you, and they are all sitting the same exams as you. You may not realise but if you put on the hard work, no matter where you begin, you can achieve great things both academically and musically. So in the end, you can achieve great things if you don't stress and put your mind to things. Then, go with the flow and don't over think things. As I'm here on India immersion, I have had time to sort out my priorities and think about what really matters. In third form, you will have your eyes on Med School, and you will start to base your subject choices on that. However, what you mus...

Joshua Roberts A few nights ago I had the privilege of chatting to VJ, the founder of the Magicians Rugby Club in Bombay. I posed to him the question: "Why rugby?" In a country dominated by cricket, where the basic laws of rugby are unknown to most, it seemed to me like a strange choice of code. He replied by saying that he had fallen in love with the sport in part because of the core values which are integral to the playing of rugby. These are, as outlined by the irb: integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline, and respect. He explained to me that in these values he sees more than just a guideline to playing rugby, he finds in them a guideline to living life. In the children who pass through his programme, he sees a huge shift in the direction in which life is taking them, a change in the hand that has been dealt to them. Rugby teaches them these values, and these values teach them how to live. During this chat I was reminded of Tom's talk at the Leavers' Lun...

To Roni Chapman, I could tell you everything that happens from the next four years in life and you may be better off. If I told you everything I could say what to get involved in and what to not to, whether that be in or outside of school. I could tell you my regrets so you could avoid making the same mistakes I did. I would stress how special the India trip has been to me to assure you would do it. I'll tell you to keep working hard but also tell you not to be so focused on getting into an Australian Uni because it will put too much weight on your shoulders. I think you would enjoy your next 4 years even more than I did.  However I think the one thing you will find is that the most special part about being a teenager is seeing yourself grow and mature. If I were to tell you everything that happens in the next 4 years of your life I don't think you would truly grow as a person because you will have no tests to face or problems to overcome. But the one thing I will tell you ...

Matt Leo asked me to do this blog after he found that he could not write the final round up as he was struggling to put his 'monstrous' effort into words. Today was the day that most of the boys were dreading, the day when everyone gets shaved. Ben Lerner has tried his best to get out of it, but the bookings were fixed.  So here are the current standings before the final award ceremony tomorrow: Firstly staff- this category would definitely be the easiest to judge as there is really one true leader- Mr Jordan. Mr Jordan has more hair on his beard than he has on his head, though his insistence on having ginger hairs in his growth is yet to be proven to us he definitely claims the prize of Best Beard. Speaking of ginger hairs, one can't not mention Reuben's superb effort. Some speculated that he was an underdog for taking Best Beard but he has been disqualified on the technicality that he was never clean shaven at the start of the tour or even after his 's...