At lunchtime today, a students from each of our four houses Puriri, Rata, Kowhai and Totara, were invited to speak in a speech competition on the theme for our Tongan language week "Fakakoloa 'o Aotearoa 'aki 'a e 'ofa fonua - Enrich Aotearoa with the love of duty and service to Country, Community and People".
There were four students who took up the challenge - Suzie, Leopote, Ruth and Eliesa who all come from different backgrounds with varying degrees of 'Tonganess'. Three of the students spoke in a mixture of English and Tongan, whilst our last speaker, spoke fluently in Tongan.
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| Suzie, Ruth, Eli and Leo after their inspirational speeches. |
Each speaker spoke with dignity and pride of who they were and what they believed in. They spoke without fear. To hear them share their values and pride in their language was inspiring and I wish I could've captured the moment better. You could see the power of their 'Talanoa' as they spoke, the auditorium was silent. Suzie talked about how she identifies as a Niuean, but her father is part Tongan and he would be proud of her standing at the front, showing respect for him and her Tongan side. Leo spoke about being called 'plastic' for not knowing how to speak Tongan, which was merely a label, but his heart and soul was Tongan.
Ruth shared how her speaking English has become more fluent then her Tongan but that this "lack of language does not define the depths of my lineage, my pride for my heritage or my authenticity as a Tongan woman". And lastly Eli, our final speaker, who spoke in his native Tongan language stood there with his head up high, allowing the words to flow out of him to inspire all that heard him. It was quite emotional to see them in this light, with such pride and without fear and I know that the way they presented themselves today, will make every Tongan proud. Their love of who they are and where they are from will empower all the students to be proud of their own identifies, whether they are Tongan or not.
When I think of how 'fearless' their speeches were today, I am reminded of the power of 'Talanoa' and how it has given others the permission to now stand up, like them, and share their love of their culture with pride. My favourite quote ever comes to mind:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Marriane Williamson
Well done Suzie, Leo, Ruth and Eli - you have set the benchmark and have inspired me to encourage the Talanoa for all our students!
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