BELLA RYAN: ENGINEERING A BRIGHT FUTURE

At just 18 years old, Bella Ryan is already heading toward a promising future in STEM. As a passionate student from Avonside High School in Christchurch, Bella has spent her high school years immersed in the EVolocity programme, where she has turned her love for science into hands-on engineering experience.

What started as a simple presentation in Year 11 has evolved into a profound journey through EVolocity. Bella was initially drawn to the opportunity to step outside her comfort zone - but it didn’t take long before she’d fallen in love with the concepts the programme teachers.

Now, three years later, Bella remains deeply involved, though her role has grown considerably. This year, she’s taken on the ambitious challenge of building her electric vehicle entirely by herself - an impressive feat for any student.

“I’m working on a four-wheel go-kart,” she explains. “It’s a chassis model, and I’ll be competing in the open class. It’s going really well. I’ve gained so much more in-depth knowledge by doing it all on my own.”

In previous years, Bella worked from pre-existing parts, but this year marks her first time building from scratch. “It’s been fun working through the process step-bystep,” she says “I had a rough idea of how to make it, but I’ve enjoyed expanding my knowledge every year. Focusing on the details, growing more confident, and getting deeper into the technical side - it’s how I found my passion.”

At the time we speak, Bella estimates she’s only a few weeks away from finishing. The only thing left to do is the wiring.

With race day fast approaching, Bella is eager to see everything come together. “It’s such a fun atmosphere,” she shares. “It’s rewarding to see everyone’s hard work pay off. It doesn’t matter what team you were on - everyone cheers for each other.”

Last year’s race day was especially memorable, as Bella and her team placed second in their category and took home the prestigious Show Stopper prize, given to the team which presents their vehicle the best. “It was nice to get recognition after working so hard,” she recalls. For Bella, the Show Stopper award came down to the finer details.

“We spent hours polishing the vehicle, making sure the rough edges were smoothed out, and adding embellishments.”

The win was particularly sweet because the year before, Bella and her team hadn’t even been able to compete. After months of hard work, Bella and her team discovered that their vehicle - built from scrap parts and centered around a bike - had been stolen They found out just minutes before the race. Despite the setback, Bella and her team maintained a positive attitude.

“Honestly, we still had such a fun day” she says, laughing. “We went and cheered for our friends.”

That sense of resilience and positivity has become a hallmark of Bella’s journey. She embodies the spirit of engineering, where facing challenges and adapting to unexpected problems is a core part of the process.

For Bella, finding humour in these difficult situations has been a key to staying motivated. “Laughing at every mistake we made - that’s what I’ll remember more than the things that went well. Even when things go spectacularly wrong, you just have to laugh.”

One particularly memorable mishap occurred last year when Bella’s team was experimenting with ways to fit a battery box. “We tried holding it with pieces of wood and hot glue,” she recalls. “When we went to test the vehicle, the battery box fell out, and then we discovered the brakes weren’t working - we ended up crashing into a phone box!” she laughs.

Despite the occasional hiccup, Bella is grateful for the skills and connections she’s developed through EVolocity. “One of my favourite parts has been working with friends, trying out different ideas, and getting closer with the people I’ve worked with,” she says.

As she reflects on her experiences, Bella acknowledges just how much she’s gained. On a practical level, she’s learned an array of technical skills. “Before this, I knew nothing about metalwork, welding, or the techniques I use now.”

But beyond the technical knowledge, Bella has also developed invaluable life skills. “I’ve learned how to grow when mistakes happen and how to brush them off. You just have to keep going.”

Her advice for others is simple but powerful: “Try. Enter competitions, even if you don’t feel like you have the skills. Just set a goal and go for it.”

Already, Bella is taking the opportunity to share her experiences with others. “I love helping the younger ones,” she says. “There’s a Year 11 team, and I enjoy giving them advice and insight into the competition.”

Recently, Bella even showcased her go-kart at a school open night, where she inspired younger students to get involved. “The Year 8s were really excited - they’re already saying they want to join next year.”

As for her own future, Bella is still deciding between pursuing a career in STEM or medicine. Whichever path she chooses, one thing is clear: her passion for learning, resilience, and ability to inspire others will undoubtedly carry her far.