Book Corner

Who are you? 

My name is Jasmine Rugg and I am a Year 12 student, and take part in many of the leadership programmes provided. I am currently in the volleyball prem team who won Auckland champs and Nationals this year and I spend most of my time playing sports such as beach volleyball. I was born in Auckland and am Pakeha. I used to attend Murrays Bay Intermediate.

When you’re not reading, what do you love doing?

I spend pretty much all of my time playing volleyball or beach volleyball and working towards winning nationals. I also coach a Year 9 volleyball team and am keen to pass on my skills on the court. My favourite team is the University of Hawai’i Bows as well as the Volley Ferns who I can go and watch with my friends.

What’s a book you remember reading/having read to you when you were little? Describe why that book is memorable to you.

A book from when I was little that I vividly remember being read to me is Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy. The most memorable parts of the book series I remember Hairy Maclary getting into mischief and then being scared off. It was full of good lessons such as raising awareness about irrational fear and the nature of emotion. 

What do you love about our library?

The people and the facilities. The librarians we have at Rangitoto are some of the kindest and most passionate people. They take the time out of their day to help you find a book that is suited for you and your interests. As well as the amazing staff, we are lucky enough to have multiple seating areas for study areas, including reading rooms for classes to go to and spend time silently reading.

What are you currently reading?

The book I am currently reading is Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz. This book is about two women who have just moved to New York. Neither one knows the other but are brought together one dark and stormy night in the underbelly of the city, one murdered, the other trying to solve the tragic murder behind it. 

What’s your favourite book, and why?

Currently, my favourite book is a two-part series, If He Had Been With Me and If Only I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin. This book shows the relationship of two childhood best friends, their ups and downs and everything they go through together. It shows the realities of losing someone you love and the regrets that come with it. I love this book because it emphasises the importance of being true to your emotions before it is too late. It is a realistic and passionate story about true-love through the teenage years. 

Why do you think people should read?

I think that books have something that social media and all other distractions don’t. Although reading can get boring and can take up a lot of time, I think that it gives you so much and it takes you away from reality. It lets everything and anything be real and allows you to escape. It gives you a mental break which is essential for everyone. 

What are some mottos you live by?

Something I live by is the issue of being scared to do things, but having the courage to override that fear. You can’t let fear stop you from doing what you need or want to do. Having courage doesn’t mean you have no fear. It means doing it even if you are scared. Otherwise, you will never be able to achieve your dreams. 

Describe your perfect Saturday/Sunday?

My perfect weekend would be a warm summer’s day, playing beach volleyball for hours, then walking over to the wharf and going swimming. Then I love to go home and spend the rest of the evening with my family before reading and sleeping. 

What advice are you grateful you’ve received?

You can’t let others believe in you, you need to believe in yourself. This is something I have been told by my head coach for volleyball. If you don’t believe in yourself then you will not have the ability to reach your best. You need to believe that you can do more than your best or you will be stuck where you are. Trying to feed off of other people believing in you isn’t enough as it can fade away. These people won’t be with you on the court in critical, high pressure moments. It can also be hard for people to feed you positivity, especially if you are feeling a bit negative.  

What are some of your hopes and dreams for the future?

I hope to take my sport with me after school and make something of myself within the sport and continue it on. I’d like to be the person I have always dreamed of being since I was a little.  

Who are you?

I’m Sue Russell, an English teacher, wife, mother of three, and grandmother of four.

What’s your claim to fame?

I began working at Rangitoto College in 1997 as a Teacher Aide, then teacher training at Massey University before beginning my teaching career at Rangitoto College in 2000.

When you’re not reading, what do you love doing?

Spending time with my family/friends; gardening; walking.

What do you love about our library/working at Rangitoto College?

I love the wide selection of books that the library offers.  The collegiality, supportive working environment, and high expectations demanded of everyone.

What were you doing before this role?

I was a full time Mum living in the Namib Desert.

What was on the family bookshelf growing up? 

Enid Blyton; the classics; encyclopaedias and a range of non-fiction books.

Tell us a brilliant book memory?

I was an avid bookworm as a youngster and I would often resort to reading by torchlight under my blankets at night, desperate to finish my current book.

Do you remember reading/loving any books at school? 

I loved non-fiction books; historical fiction and books about travel – they transported me to other places; hence my love and passion for travel.

What’s a book that’s changed your life/mind?  

Historical fiction—The Pearl That Broke its Shell by Nadia Hashimi—set in Afghanistan, the story revolves around the link between two women within a family, displaying tenacity in the face of tremendous adversity.  It’s a book that is hard to forget—set against the backdrop of female oppression – courage and hope ultimately prevail.

What are you currently reading?
Weyward by Emilia Hart—an historical fiction novel set in England, spanning three generations of women in the same family across three centuries.

Where do you seek inspiration?
From my family and friends.

What do you always recommend?
Historical fiction.

What do you/will you love reading to your grandkids?

Richard Scarry books; Tu Meke Tuatara; Tu Meke Tui.

What’s your favourite book?

The Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simons.

What are some mottos you live by?

Actions have consequences; Live the best day each day.

Describe your perfect Saturday/Sunday?

Beginning the day with a long walk or bike ride, followed by quality time with family or friends, gardening; followed by some down-time – reading.

Who would your ideal lunch companion(s) be, dead or alive? 

David Attenborough.

What advice do you have for teenagers today? 

Follow your passions; the rest will fall into place.

Who are you? 

My name is Isaac and I am a Year 12 student at Rangitoto College. I was born in New Zealand, but my parents are originally from Korea. I am the youngest of three older brothers. I used to swim competitively and take piano lessons, but now I don’t really do much outside of school. In my free time, I enjoy walking my dog and reading. I generally enjoy reading dystopian, historical fiction, or adventure books, but I am open to reading anything as long as it’s good. 

What’s a book you can recommend to others, and why? 

I would recommend The Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins. The books are set in a dystopian future, in which freedom is restricted and children are forced into the arena every year to kill each other for survival in the Hunger Games. The books follow the story of a teenage girl named Katniss who is forced to participate in the 74th Hunger Games and has to overcome various challenges in order to survive. All three books are filled with action, tension, and excitement that are also interwoven with themes of sacrifice, rebellion, and the struggle for self-identity. Overall they were really fun to read and each page went by quickly. It’s quite an easy read and even those who don’t usually enjoy reading would probably have a good time with these books. 

What’s your favourite book, and why? 

I think it’s kind of hard to pick a favourite book, but a book that comes to mind for this question is The Secret History by Donna Tartt. The novel is narrated by Richard Papen, a student who attends Hampden University whose life is completely changed when he meets five other students in an Ancient Greek class taught by an eccentric professor named Julian. As the story progresses, there is a sense of uncertainty that adds to the feeling of suspense and tension, and its complexity allows for a captivating story. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and its various intricate details have me going back to its pages. 

Why do you think people should read?

I think people should read because it is an effective way of taking our mind off of life’s problems, while also helping us to understand the ideas and perspectives of others. Novels allow us to be transported to another world built on imagination, creativity, and different perspectives. They offer a temporary escape from the real world while also giving insight into experiences that we might never encounter in our own lives. Beyond entertainment, reading helps us to learn and expand our understanding of the world by challenging our set beliefs and allowing us to have more empathy for others when we read about various diverse characters. I think this is vital in developing human character. Therefore, reading is important and everybody should do it. 

What are some mottos you live by? 

I wouldn’t say I have a motto, but a phrase I unironically sometimes say to myself is “It is what it is.”  It’s a reminder that not everything is under my control and not everything will go according to plan. I don’t think there’s any deep meaning behind it. It’s just a reminder to accept a situation if it cannot be changed and to not stress too much about it.

Who are you?
My name is Christine Parkinson. I grew up in South Africa, and have lived in New Zealand since 1993. I have been teaching at Rangitoto College since 1995. (So last century!) I love working here and I love teaching. It is a rewarding profession that allows you to talk about something you enjoy, to people you like, all day long! I can honestly say that I’ve never been bored for a single day as a teacher.

What’s your claim to fame?
I have a deep and abiding love for Tintin! And Snowy. ❤️

When you’re not reading, what do you love doing?
Apart from reading, there are three things I have loved all my life: animals, plants and sewing. So a perfect day for me would be to be surrounded by my many, many houseplants while I sew something with my dog on my lap. An audiobook playing would be the cherry on top. And a cup of coffee.

What do I love about working at Rangitoto College?

I love my colleagues who show dedication on a daily basis, and who are funny and compassionate. I love my students who work hard and are determined to always be better. I also love the ones who may not enjoy school so much! I love being part of a college that always strives for excellence but also cares about its people.

What were you doing before this role?
I taught in an English Department at a university in South Africa. Part of my role was to work with students who had been denied a decent education because of apartheid.

What was on the family bookshelf growing up?
Little House on the Prairie, Pippi Longstocking (I hero-worshipped Pippi), the Mary Poppins books. C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series was a favourite, and so was My Family and other Animals by Gerald Durrell – I read those books over and over. Also Swallows and Amazons, Heidi, and Little Women.

We used to go to the local library every week. My sisters and I would argue over who would read the new Asterix first. It was a small library and I worked my way around from the children’s section to the adult’s section. There weren’t many books written for teenagers then – although I do remember reading The Outsiders about twenty times – so I moved from reading Narnia straight to John Fowles and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Tell us a brilliant book memory?
I remember the thrill of being able to read to my younger sister. I felt so grown up! Another memory is being on holiday and running out of things to read. I talked my brother into tearing his book in half so that I could read the first half while he was still reading the second half. The book was The Clan of the Cave Bear. We still laugh about that.

What’s your favourite book?
I have lots of favourite books – I keep adding to the list. Persuasion by Jane Austen, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, the Magicians trilogy by Lev Grossman, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. All books I’ve read and reread. Also Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, and Middlemarch by George Eliot. The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and Life of Pi by Yann Martel. E.M. Forster’s A Room with a View, and Anthony Doerr’s Cloud Cuckoo Land. I read anything and everything: thrillers like Orphan X, romances like It Ends With Us, detective fiction, fantasy, science fiction, magic realism. If I see my students reading something interesting, I’ll have a look and read it if I like it.

A motto I live by is “The sun always rises”.

One of my dearest hopes is that Amazon never goes out of business, because I read on a Kindle and would like to have the chance to reread a bunch of the books stored on it.

Who are you? 

Hi, my name is Kenny Zhang and I am a student at Rangitoto College. 

When you’re not reading, what do you love doing?

I love playing sports and just being active in general. Some sports I play are volleyball and football.

What’s a book you remember reading/having read to you when you were little? 

The Little Caterpillar. In my primary years this book was read often and there was even a caterpillar stuffed animal that my friends and I often played with. 

Describe why that book is memorable to you.

As a kid I was fascinated by bugs so I would remember anything about them. That is probably why it is very memorable to me.

What do you love about our library?

Our reading rooms because they are a nice space to just relax and read. 

What’s a book you can recommend to others, and why? 

Atomic Habits by James Cleare is a great book about making good habits and how to break bad ones. It has helped me identify bad habits and make some new good ones.

Why do you think people should read?

Reading teaches, opens perspectives and is, in general, good for you. By reading you can see things from someone else’s point of view – either real or fictional. So with reading you can experience a completely different life by just opening a book. 

Where do you seek inspiration from?

People that have made something from nothing. This is usually people like sports athletes who have worked so hard that they were able to become something great from nothing. 

What are some mottos you live by?

“The biggest losses teach the greatest lessons.”

Who are you?
My name is Jamie Sowter and I am a Health and Physical Education Teacher. I have worked at Rangitoto College for eight years. For the last three years I have worked as a Dean. I am currently working as part of the phenomenal Dean’s team where we move with our students. I have been involved in a range of different sports teams, both managing and coaching whilst at Rangitoto College. More recently, I have been involved with managing the Premier Girls Volleyball team and coaching netball. Sports have been my life, with Physical Education and Health being my favourite subjects when I was at school. I followed my passion which led to being a PE teacher.

What’s your claim to fame?
Every volleyball team I have managed at the school has won a medal in every competition we have attended. I say it’s down to the fantastic manager they have. There is now some pressure on the Junior Boys Team for this season to pull through and continue the streak.

When you’re not reading, what do you love doing?
I am a sports fan. I love playing sports and watching sports. I still play Netball out at Netball Waitakere and go to the gym. I love going to rugby and league games. The chant “Up the WAHS” has been known to cross my lips. If that makes no sense to you, I suggest that you look it up. I also love a good shopping trip. I may not need a new pair of shoes but there is always a pair that calls to me.

What do you love about our library/working at Rangitoto College?
I love working at Rangitoto College. The people I have met and worked with are awesome. I have made some lifelong friends here, especially through the PE department. The school is very collegial and everyone pitches in to help if needed. My role as a coach and manager is my true passion. Simply getting involved with sport here has been amazing. I have met so many awesome students who are truly impassioned about their sport and driven to succeed.

What were you doing before this role?
Before teaching at Rangitoto College, I was a student at the University of Auckland, studying a Bachelor of Physical Education and Health. I was a competitive athlete, focussing on the 400m and 400m hurdles. My part-time job, while at University, was a swim instructor for babies.

Do you remember reading/loving any books at school? Tell us about them. What’s a book that’s changed your life/mind?
The first author I remember loving was Jacqueline Wilson. Through Year 5 to Year 8, I would only ever read her series.

What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading the novel Three Sisters by Heather Morris. It is a story of three sisters reuniting. They were all in concentration camps during the holocaust and ended up in Auschwitz- Birkenau. However, after the war, they were able to reunite. It is based on a true story and is an inspiring book about their story of survival.

What do you/will you love reading to your kids?
A book that we have always read to us and the cousins is The Pungapeople of Ninety Mile Beach. This is a book that I will definitely continue reading to my own children one day. My family is from a 90 mile beach in Ahipara. My Poppa was born there and we still holiday up there when we can. It’s really cool to have a book written about a place that is so special to me and my family.

What’s your favourite book?
My favourite book is Life or Death by Michael Robothom. It is a story about a character called Audie Palmer who has been in prison for over a decade for armed robbery. The day before he is meant to be released, Audie escapes. It is a story that grips you right until the end. I am not the fastest reader, but this was a book that I finished in two days as I could not put it down.

What are some mottos you live by?
“The best motivation always comes from within.”
At the end of the day, you want to walk away from any situation, proud of yourself.

Describe your perfect Saturday/Sunday?
A sleep in, followed by a nice brunch date with the girls.

What advice do you have for teenagers today?
Make the most of every opportunity, try new things, and keep busy.

Who are you? 

Hi! I am Eliana Heard and I am a Year 12 student at Rangitoto College. I have been fortunate enough to be here at this school for four years so far and it has had a hugely positive impact on my life. I have a passion for sports, hockey in particular, and I also love meeting new people and always having a good laugh. I am part of the 1stXI Hockey team here at Rangi, as well as being a member of the Sports Committee. 

When you’re not reading, what do you love doing?

As said above, I love to play sports, especially hockey in my spare time. It takes up a lot of my time, but I absolutely love it as it’s a good environment to improve in. For me, it’s always about connection in life, so I love hanging out with my hockey team, my family and friends as well as going to the beach in the summer.

What’s your favourite book, and why?

The autobiography about Eric Lidell. This is my favourite as I find it hugely inspirational in life, reading how Eric was able to not only integrate, but prioritise his faith over his sport. It is incredible. I strive to do the same, and by reading this book it motivates me to do as he did, with the hardworking, never-give-up attitude that he had to be such a positive influence and sporting icon in those days. 

Where do you seek inspiration from?

I seek inspiration from a combination of books, movies, quotes, and positive role models. Lisa Carrington and Aimee Fisher are both big role models in my life. This is especially true of Aimee who is also a woman of faith as well as someone who works incredibly hard towards goal, including competing in the Olympics. I hope to be able to do the same one day. Furthermore, Lisa’s incredibly humble and persevering attitude encourages me to hold myself in a way, both on field and off field, that exemplifies my core values as she did. Using her as a role model  means that I stay true to myself no matter what environment I am in. 

What are some mottos you live by?

Maya Angelous’ quote – “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you’ve done but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 

Martin Luther King- “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

What are some of your hopes and dreams for the future?

I dream to travel the world, visiting many different places as well as hopefully, going on missions to developing countries to share the gospel and volunteer in places where help is seriously needed. Additionally, I dream to play hockey for New Zealand at a national level but we will see how the future plans out!

What do you love about our library?

I love Rangitoto library and am hugely grateful to have been able to use it. The large size of it, combined with a wide range of books means it’s an exceptional place to come and study when you are in need of a quiet space.