The role of a prefect is not merely one of authority, but of service and responsibility.
Through the gates of Queen Victoria School, many leaders have had their leadership skills honed, their capacity to lead sharpened and their capability to handle complex challenges developed.
The school’s prefect induction ceremony that was held on February 11 and marked a significant milestone in the lives of the young men chosen to lead 800 students.
Lands and Mineral Resources Minister Filimoni Vosarogo, who was the chief guest at the induction, said prefects were entrusted with the task to uphold values of integrity, compassion and excellence.
“At this point, I want to drop a secret that you can take to help you lead effortlessly and allow you to handle power with how God wants it handled, in your new leadership journey,” he said.
“The ancient writing gives us that secret in the book of Judges 5:2.
“Prefects, if you listen well to that scripture, you will be able to discern what could make your life as a leader easy and bearable.
“When you lead, the students in your dorm will follow willingly, but they will only follow willingly if you lead. Lead in that verse presages firstness.
“It means first to attend, first to wake up, first to sharpen your knife, first to the dining hall, first to class, first to the farm, and when there is shortage of food, first to sacrifice, first to go to battle, first to run hard, first to be clean, first to follow school rules, first to the chapel and first to think of consequences of your own actions.
“When you do that your leadership will not go unnoticed and those under your leadership will offer to follow you because of your good examples in the dorm.
They will listen to you and they will obey.”
The prefects were urged to practice their leadership journey and to discover the support that heaven will have towards them for honouring divine instructions.
“Queen Victoria School has a long-standing reputation for producing leaders who have made significant contributions to our society.
“I urge you to take this generational opportunity with humility, empathy, and a commitment to excellence.
“Your actions and decisions as prefects will shape the culture and environment of the school that should leave a legacy for those who aspire to be here in the future.”
He encouraged the newly inducted prefects to honour former students, parents, teachers and most of all God in their new role as leaders. Anare Tabakaucoro was inducted as the school’s head boy.
He hails from Namara in Tailevu.
