Kia Ora Koutou!
My name is Solomon Daff, and I attended Middleton Grange School for three years (Years 11-13) and graduated in 2024.
My time at Middleton was really enjoyable. A major highlight was the opportunity to be one of the Service and Missions leaders, having responsibilities that came with the role and the opportunity to help others and promote a culture of service through events including Retirement Village visits, working on the Operation Christmas Child project, promoting and fundraising for the 40hr Challenge, and the annual Blood Drive. I enjoyed how Middleton created a positive environment, encouraged learning, and supported the students to achieve the best that they could. A part of this can be credited to the fantastic teachers that are essential to Middleton Grange. School was made a lot easier for me through having a great set of teachers who I am forever grateful for. There were two incredible teachers: Mr McConnell and Mrs Bisseker, who gave me wonderful advice and were genuinely interested in my education and my future goals of High School Teaching. Middleton was a place where I was able to forge friendships and now, despite physical distances, busyness with study, and just life in general, these friends remain a key part of my life.
I must also credit Middleton for providing me with the opportunity to meet my amazing partner, Mel.
Life after Middleton has taken me into studying at the University of Canterbury, where I am completing a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and Education and a minor in Classics. Once I finish my BA, I intend to study another year to receive a Secondary Teaching qualification, where I hope to return to Middleton as a teacher where I want to give back to the community which did so much for me.
Throughout the year, I’ve continued working in after school kids care at schools in Western Christchurch.
I’ve also taken on a role as a Teacher Aide at Oaklands Te Kura o Ōwaka in Halswell which has been an amazing opportunity to be involved in Education and the Schooling system, and being able to learn and have practice in an industry I want to be involved in.
This year has come with challenges, mainly involving the responsibilities of handling myself and remaining consistent throughout a long period of time and maintaining a routine. Alongside this, juggling full time study and 30 hours of work a week has been a real challenge, but a great test of my abilities.
I have been gifted by being provided with some amazing opportunities, which I credit to God and am grateful that I have been blessed by his love, support, and guidance to take on these new parts of life and further journey with my faith.
If I could pass on any advice to current Middleton Grange students, I would encourage students to make the most of the resources, opportunities, and services provided at school. Even now, I occasionally think about amazing opportunities I was just a little unsure of taking that I would’ve leaped at if I had the chance now. The resources and services at school can really set you up for what you want to do, and help you get where you want to be. I would also encourage students to seek advice at the Careers Office, and if you feel comfortable, then talk to your teachers more. I had my goals of becoming a teacher since I was 14 (even before Middleton Grange), but the support from the Careers Office was really helpful, and as I mentioned previously, I had two wonderful teachers who really helped and were encouraging, supportive, and gave wonderful advice in my journey to Tertiary Education.