When it comes to setting goals during your high school years, rowing across the Atlantic Ocean and exploring some of the country's most treacherous terrain are far from typical.

But for Tauranga Boys' College old boy Jamie Fitzgerald, the sporting experience he had when he was at school gave him the skills and focus to take on those challenges.

Tauranga Boys' College old boy Jamie Fitzgerald will headline a special fundraiser for the school's rowers next month. Photo: Supplied.

This month, the world-class adventurer, motivational speaker and leadership development consultant will headline a special fundraiser for the school's rowers, and hopes to instil the core values of pushing yourself and stepping outside of your comfort zone.

Back in 1997, Jamie was part of the eight-man squad that won rowing's prestigious Maadi Cup – a recognised symbol of supremacy for secondary school rowing.

Being part of the school's rowing squad and having to work as a team was a powerful motivator for Jamie when it came to perusing sporting challenges and setting goals.

'When you are a young man at school you are quite impressionable,” he explains, 'and I think being able to put yourself in an environment where you have teamwork and you're actively pursuing goals is quite healthy.

'It's a big deal, and when I was at high school searching for things to become passionate about and things that made me want to step out of my comfort zone, rowing was it.”

Some 18 years later and that winning eight is the last crew from the school to have lifted to glittering trophy – a feat Jamie wishes had been achieved again as he prepares to meet up with his former crew.

'It's sort of bittersweet,” he adds, 'because I would have preferred if they had gone on to win it again.

'All schools go through these waves with any sport and it seems with Tauranga Boys' it has been a long time since.”

Since leaving school in 1998, Jamie has carved out an impressive sporting and adventure career. In 2003 he and Kevin Biggar set a new record by rowing the Atlantic Ocean in 40 days and five hours.

They teamed up again in 2006 and walked from the edge of the Antarctic to the South Pole – a total of 1200 kilometres – in 52 days.

The have gone on to film two seasons of ‘First Crossings' where they conquer some of New Zealand's iconic landscapes and crossings using 19th-century clothing, food and equipment.

But all of his accomplishments were aided by the necessary discipline, regular early starts and a drive to succeed that he first learnt at college.

'I learnt heaps about life and what it means to pursue some goals,” says Jamie. 'I would like to come back and share a few of those lessons, and then what I have gone on to do with those lessons, since I left school.”

Jamie is the guest speaker at the Tauranga Boys' College rowing dinner on August 7. For more information, contact Tracey Mannington-Brown on: 027 489 4774 or email: tgaboyscollegerowing@gmail.com