I am a Year 12 NCEA student at Rangitoto College. This year I am taking extension classes for English, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and History, and will be attempting the scholarship exams for English, Biology, Health & PE and History. Through taking such classes, I have continuously been pushed to achieve as highly as possible, encouraged by my teachers to go beyond expectations and fulfil my potential. Through this motivating environment created by the teachers, I was able to achieve Excellence endorsement for NCEA Level 1 and receive awards for History and Biology, only made possible by the dedication of my teachers.

In addition to the expert guidance of the teachers, Rangitoto College has provided me with a plethora of opportunities to pursue my dreams. I have been fortunate enough to be part of Big Band, which has ascended to being one of the top jazz bands in the country, as well as the Stockholm jazz Combo. Earlier this year, I was presented the opportunity to go on a trip to Tauranga for the National Youth Jazz Competition, which I jumped at with memories of the same trip last year. At this competition, I was exposed to some of the best musicians in the country and given feedback to improve my performance as a saxophone player. Through the dedication of our music teachers, Big Band achieved the gold award, and my combo Stockholm received the silver award. North Sea, the top combo of Rangitoto College, was named as the best high school level combo in the country after many months of dedication enabled by the efforts of our music teachers. Along with the extensive opportunities in the performing arts, Rangitoto College excels in sports. This year I am part of the Boys Second XI football team, being a reserve for the First XI. Through the positive environment created by my coach and teammates, I have been able to make lifelong connections while keeping fit and achieving excellence with my team.

The college’s support networks ensure that each student receives the help they need, seen through programmes such as the Peer Support Programme, in which Year 13 students help Year 9 students through the daunting prospect of high school. In doing so, students are encouraged to push themselves to be the best while maintaining healthy practices and maintaining relationships with others.

After I finish my NCEA level 2 and 3 courses, I plan to study Youth Psychiatry at the University of Auckland, a dream which Rangitoto College has set me a clear pathway for. This ability to guide students through their education journey while encouraging them to push themselves allows students at Rangitoto College to find their own passions and pursue their dreams.

I was born and raised in the small but pleasant coastal city of Tauranga where I lived my entire life up until early last year when our family moved to Auckland. Moving up to Auckland in year 11, our family found attending Rangitoto College highly appealing due to their evident level of proficiency in secondary education which can be seen from the results the college garnered in academics, sports and performing arts. I was fortunate when the college accepted my late out-zone application and am still very grateful for their generosity.

Choosing IB has been and will be a decision that I will not regret. This is because the IB Diploma Programme will provide me with the learning experiences and opportunities that NCEA cannot offer. The transition from NCEA to IB was smooth and seamless and my time in the IB curriculum at Rangitoto College will provide me with a solid foundation to continue my tertiary studies in aeronautical engineering overseas. I personally take the following subjects: Mathematics AA Higher Level (HL), Physics HL, History HL, Chemistry Standard Level (SL), English Literature (SL) and Korean Literature (SL).

However, outside of the IB Diploma Programme, I enjoy challenging myself and learning new things through participating in academic competitions. In particular, in previous years I especially enjoyed studying and participating in Maths Olympiad contests. So, I was very pleased when I was able to receive an honourable mention at the annual NZ Mathematical Olympiad in 2022 and 2023. In addition, I was able to place and excel in other competitions such as the Junior Otago Maths Competition and the Interschool Maths Olympiad.

In terms of NZQA scholarship exam, in year 11, I was able to pass the scholarship calculus examination but with all honesty, I thought I had genuinely failed after the exam. My success in the exam can be attributed to the effectiveness of the scholarship calculus sessions run by Rangitoto College teaching staff. Because of this, I was accepted into a University of Canterbury course for first-year maths in 2023 where I was able to complete the course with a final grade of A+. In 2023 I passed the scholarship calculus and physics examinations.

Now, instead of competing, I choose to help contribute to the development of the school’s maths competition club. With the cooperation of other student leaders, we teach and provide opportunities for junior students to grow and develop their skills in problem solving maths. We aim to prepare the students for different competitions throughout the year. However, in the field of Maths Olympiad, Rangitoto College previously lacked a similar kind of programme to support junior students. Therefore, in 2023, with the help of other students, I established the Rangitoto Maths Olympiad Club where we aim to teach the art of maths Olympiad to junior students so that they can better prepare for Olympiad contests throughout the year.

As an avid slalom canoeist, I have seen success on the national and international stage over the past couple of years. At the 2023 and 2024 editions of the NZ Secondary School Championships, I represented Rangitoto College and obtained a bronze medal and a silver medal respectively. At the 2024 ICF World Ranking Race NZ Open, I added another silver medal to my collection. On the international stage I represent Korea and I made my debut at the 2023 ICF Junior World Championships in Krakow, Poland. In 2024, at the Junior Asian Championships, I was a bronze medallist in my field and, at the time of writing this, I will be due to compete at the 2024 ICF Junior World Championships in Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia.

In 2024, I officially introduced the sport of canoe slalom to Rangitoto College, and students now have the opportunity to participate in this sport for the first time. I personally coach the students and organise the teaching programme with the cooperation of the local club. This is entirely voluntary, and I choose to do this because I believe it is only right for me to volunteer like this for the school and the local community as I, myself, have received a lot of support and resources from other people while I was still a developing athlete.

I am also in the Violin 1 section of the Rangitoto College Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra where we are working towards the KBB Music Festival in term 3. In 2024, I was part of the school’s Elite Chamber Music Programme where my chamber group had the opportunity to perform at the 2024 NZ Chamber Music Contest. These wide ranges of opportunities to involve myself in performing arts is also another aspect of Rangitoto College that makes the school particularly appealing to me. I am grateful to be able to participate in these music groups as not all schools are able to offer such opportunities.

As a Year 13 student at Rangitoto College, I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) cohort. My preparation for IB started in Year 9 as I was in extension classes leading up to Year 12. There were many key factors which helped me choose IB. I really enjoy the worldwide focus the course has, which aligns with my desire to study overseas for university. This course will give me the best chance to get accepted into a university overseas, as it is recognised globally.

The IB Diploma is designed to prepare students as best as possible for university. It teaches important skills such as essay writing, time management, and collaboration. The Extended Essay is a significant part of the programme, allowing me to practise writing in a university style for an essay of 4,000 words. This will also improve my research abilities and deepen my understanding of my chosen topic. The two-year duration of the course teaches effective time management. This includes balancing the heavy workload of the course with extracurricular activities, such as sports and music. The small cohort provides an opportunity to create strong connections with like-minded students. Overall, this course will give me the best possible start to my future career, and I am looking forward to what lies ahead.