Head Girl: Leadership Role Will Boost 2020 Academic Journey
Kristel Dena’s induction as the head girl of Jai Narayan College was a timely boost. She scored the highest marks during the Fiji Year 12 Certificate Examination.
The 18-year-old girl, who is originally from the Philippines managed 391 marks out of 400 in her external examination last year.
She always dreamt of pursuing a leadership role to enhance her academic journey at the Suva-based college.
Kristel is the first foreigner to be badged as the school head girl.
“My parents and I arrived in Fiji in 2016 and my parents run a business called Philippino Shop in Suva City,” she said.
“This offered a good opportunity for me to study at Jai
Narayan College.”
Kristel said she was grateful and beyond blessed to be given this opportunity to serve the school in a leader’s capacity. Her aim is to work with fellow student leaders and teachers to meet their objectives throughout the year.
She wants prefects to balance the roles and responsibilities of studies and leadership because time management was important at tertiary level.
“Nurturing leadership qualities is important to make us succeed at the higher education levels like USP and FNU,’ Kristel said.
“In school it is hard to control some students but if leaders respect them, they will respect us as well,” she said.
For her Fiji Year 12 Certificate Examination, she scored 100 in Maths, 95 in English, 99 in Accounting, 96 in Economics and 97 in Computer studies.
Meanwhile, head boy, Rajneel Chaudhary, 17, said it was important to work hand-in-hand when it came to leadership. “My teachers were always there to support me which is why I had not faced many challenges,” he said.
Rajneel said Kristel, who was the deputy head girl last year, had helped him with setting good examples to students. “The head prefects of last year taught me many things and I am just following their footsteps,” he said.
The pure science student was the fourth highest scorer with a total mark of 384/400 in the Fiji Year 12 Examination last year.
Rajneel’s advice to students is to always remember that attitude determines their altitude.
“Be humble, down to earth and a good multi-tasker,” he said.
Student leaders
■ Head boy - Rajneel Chaudhary
■ Head girl - Kristel Dena
■ Deputy head boys- Arnold Chand and Simione Nalawanivonu
■ Deputy head girls- Amisha Chand and Esther Cakanivere