Class Act - these boys

1/9/2009

Otago Boys’ High School has again played a part in the annual Otago Daily Times’ Class Act celebration with two more outstanding young men honoured.

Blair Soper is planning a career as a delivery boy — but not just any old delivery boy. He wants to be a high speed cricket ball delivery boy.

Blair Soper

Blair is already a member of the New Zealand Under-19 World Cup Cricket Squad and the Otago Under-19 Cricket team due to his ability to bowl at an average speed of 135kmh.

The school’s 1st XI’s leading bowler for the past two years, Blair admits when the middle stump goes cartwheeling out of the ground, it’s an awesome feeling.

‘‘I live for those moments. They make the hard work worthwhile,’’ he said.

In the winter months, Blair puts cricket on hold and throws himself into his other passion — hockey.

He has been a member of the 1st XI since 2006 and a member of the Otago Under-18 hockey team for the past two years. Despite his passion for hockey, it is cricket which has won the toss. He hopes to make cricket his career by gaining selection for the Otago Volts and eventually the Black Caps.

Achievements: Otago Under 15 hockey (2007); Otago Under 18 hockey (2008-09); 2007 India Hockey Shield winner with Otago Boys’; second in the Rankin Cup 2008 with Otago Boys’; Otago Boys’ 1xt hockey XI (2006-09); New Zealand Under 19 World Cup cricket squad (2009); Otago Under 19 cricket squad (2009); Willows Cricket Club youth representative team to tour Sri Lanka (2009); Otago Boys’ 1st cricket XI (2008-09); most improved Otago Boys’ cricketer (2008).

Role Model: New Zealand cricketer Shane Bond. “He pushes young people to strive for their goals.”

Hopes for the future: To forge a career as a professional cricketer.

Juno Pyun has a simple philosophy.

“It’s important to remember that your identity is a living thing. It’s OK to let it change. You don’t have to be stuck with it forever — it’s good to try new things and let your identity grow.’’

Juno Pyun

That philosophy pushes Juno to grab every opportunity with both hands — particularly when it comes to music.

He already plays clarinet with the Southern Sinfonia, he is co-lead violinist with the New Zealand Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra and the Dunedin Youth Orchestra, he plays both violin and clarinet in the Cantores Choir Orchestra, and clarinet and saxophone with the Dunedin and Taieri Operatic Society’s orchestras. And to top it off, he plans to learn piano as well.

‘‘I’m a musical jack of all trades. If I’m familiar with broader spectrums of music, it means that I can get more enjoyment out of music as a whole.’’

Juno has a long list of successes in music competitions, including winning several classes in the Dunedin Performing Arts Society Competitions in 2008 and winning the Otago Regional Chamber Music Competition with Trio Martinu earlier this year.

Juno emigrated to New Zealand from Korea in 2002. For many people, leaving old friends, learning English and settling into life in a foreign country is a major challenge. But Juno was unfazed

‘‘Every day is a challenge. You have goals, and realising them doesn’t happen overnight. You have to keep motivating yourself, keep working hard and not be distracted or lazy. Those are the challenges I face every day.’’

Juno sets himself high goals, especially in the classroom. He has achieved NCEA levels 1 and 2 with excellence endorsements and hopes to study health sciences and music at the University of Otago next year.

Achievements: NCEA levels 1 and 2 endorsed with excellence; Otago Regional Chamber Music competition winner (2009), highly commended (2007 & 2008); New Zealand Secondary Schools symphony orchestra co-leader (2008-09); Otago Boys’ choir, orchestra, symphonic band and jazz band member (2005-09).

Role model: “My Mum. I really respect her because she works really hard in her restaurant but she also has lots of time and love for us.”

Hopes for the future: To study health sciences and music at the University of Otago.