Jesse Valpy

JESSE Valpy has learnt a lot from sitting behind the stumps.

The St Kevin’s College cricketer and footballer’s first passion has always been sport and it has taught him valuable lessons.

‘‘You learn lots of good lessons about resilience and getting back up after you get knocked down,’’ Jesse said.

‘‘You learn about hard work and the importance of that.’’

The 17yearold is talented in both arenas, playing for St Kevin’s first XI cricket team since 2019, under15 and under17 representative cricket for North Otago and the North Otago A side this year. He has played first XI football since 2020, and been captain since 2021, and represented Waitaki and South Canterbury.

Learning has also helped him dig deeper into his favourite subject — English.

‘‘You learn lots of lessons — you look at lots of different perspectives from different people, especially when you look at texts that are from maybe a while ago that you can still see how the problems or themes within those texts are very relevant today.’’

His love for the written word has opened doors for him — Jesse won the Dooley Family Cup for scripture reading in 2020, and he has competed in debating and impromptu and prepared speech in the Bishop’s Shield since 2018.

Jesse is St Kevin’s head boy and said it had been a special privilege, allowing him to give back to the community.

He plans to attend the University of

Otago to study for a bachelor of art and science, majoring in sport development and management, and English.

Achievements: Head boy (2022); NCEA Levels 1 and 2 with excellence; member of student council (2020); bronze service award (2021); Bishop’s Shield debating, impromptu and prepared speech (201822), Dooley Family Cup for scripture reading (2020); St Kevin’s College first XI cricket (201922); St Kevin’s College first XI football (202022); St Kevin’s College first XI football captain (202122), St Kevin’s College Still Fair Play Cup football (2021); St Kevin’s College junior XI cricket coach (202122); Waitaki 15th grade football (2019); South Canterbury under16 football (2021); North Otago under15 cricket (201819); North Otago under17 cricket (202021); North Otago A cricket team (2022). Role model: My father, he taught me the importance of hard work and dedication, and author J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien’s way of conveying important themes, along with the beauty and authenticity of his works and their influence on the wider world, encourage me to remain genuine and unafraid to live my own life.

Hopes for the future: Something sport related, coaching, giving back, doing what I can to help others in that way.