Prize Winner Expose

Prize Winner Expose Senior Academic Awards

DUX - SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY Gijs van Gorp

Your commitment to learning and ability to focus is outstanding. Explain how you managed this throughout your final year?

I managed my learning throughout the year by planning when to do work but also taking time off and relaxing so not to get overwhelmed.

How did your education at Ōtūmoetai College help you to feel prepared?

Otumoetai College helped me feel prepared through the teachers giving me access to all the information I needed, even during lockdown.

How did you manage to stay focused and committed to your studies throughout your final year?

It was quite hard to stay focused on my studies especially this year with the lockdown however, I believe it was that if you set goals and work towards these goals even if you do not achieve them you will still be more successful than if you didn’t try.

How did your teachers influence you and/or assist you to achieve to your best?

All my teachers always gave all my classmates and I the time and effort so that we could learn our best. I am extremely grateful to all my teachers throughout my five years at Otumoetai College, as they have always been supportive and allowed me to reach my goals.

What has been your biggest take away from your final year?

My biggest take away from this year is to work hard but balance this with your social life because being able to get along with people is really important.

Once you have finished with NCEA, what are your plans for next year?

My plans for next year are to study Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland.

What has been your biggest learning through your final year?

I didn’t really have the biggest learning in any specific field this year because I learnt so much in all my subjects especially the sciences.

What comes to mind when you think about how your life will look like in 5 – 10 years from now?

I plan on becoming a doctor and hopefully a cardiothoracic surgeon in the future however, I have many other interests that I may pursue and nothing is set in stone.

What are your parting words/suggestions for students at Ōtūmoetai College

My parting words for the students of Otumoetai College are try to enjoy your time at College but also take advantage of the opportunities that are provided to you.

DUX - SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY Emily Ardern

Your commitment to learning and ability to focus is outstanding. Explain how you managed this throughout your final year?

I think I managed this year through honest enthusiasm. I really enjoyed most of my subjects and this helped me to stay focused on getting the work done, I studied through many lunch times and stayed at school until 5:30pm multiple times a week just to make sure I was really giving it my all.

How did your education at Ōtūmoetai College help you to feel prepared?

My education at Otumoetai College helped me feel prepared as I was able to take the perfect combination of subjects to align with what I want to pursue in the future at a tertiary level, thanks to the large range of courses available at the school.

How did your teachers influence you and/or assist you to achieve to your best?

I was really blessed to have amazing teachers throughout my school experience and I feel that they equipped me well with the right discipline to find a study schedule that suits me and keep me motivated with my work. Most of my teachers showed a genuine interest in my learning and wellbeing and their passion about the subjects they were teaching was quite infectious really.

What has been your biggest take away from your final year?

My biggest take away from my final year has been that investing in your education is actually really rewarding and working hard pays off. But more importantly to speak life into other people and be kind because we all deserve to shine and everyone is talented in different ways.

Once you have finished with NCEA, what are your plans for next year?

Next year I will be moving to Wellington and attending Massey University where I will be studying a Bachelor of Creative Media Production majoring in Producing and Directing and taking elective papers from the Commercial Music course.

What has been your biggest learning through your final year?

I think I’ve learned a lot about myself when it comes to how to manage my time effectively and as much as I have totally pushed myself to achieve more than I thought possible which is great, there also seems to be some wisdom in learning when to say no and actually take time to look after yourself.

What comes to mind when you think about how your life will look like in 5 – 10 years from now?

IMy five-ten year plan is to hopefully be right in the industry, I’d love to be filming/directing music videos and advertisements for small companies, hopefully even just to be part of a film or television production crew would be amazing. If not, wedding photography and videography really interests me!

What are your parting words/suggestions for students at Ōtūmoetai College

Five years honestly flies by faster than you would think so slow down and enjoy the time you have because if you are lucky, you only get to do this whole thing once! Be kind to your teachers, because they are just people too and they really do care about you guys. Lastly do what you love, the world has enough accountants (unless accounting is what you love, in that case I’m sure the world has room for a few more!). 21

1ST AGGREGATE IN YEAR 11 -Annabel King

What Drives you to Succeed?

What drives me to succeed is knowing that working hard will eventually pay off and I will get to have a study-free holiday after exams are done!

How did your teachers influence you and / or assist you to achieve to yur best?

The teachers help me if I am stuck on something. I sometimes go to Mr McDermid’s math tutorials if I am finding something hard.

Tell us about the process you follow to overcome a difficult aspect of study?

To overcome a difficult aspect of study first I complain, and then I ask my friends, and I just keep trying to study it.

What are your goals / aspirations?

My goal is to get NCEA level three with excellence (hopefully). And also to be able to speak Spanish.

1ST AGGREGATE IN YEAR 12 Amelia Farrar

What Drives you to Succeed?

I drive myself to succeed. I have high expectations of myself and I enjoy the satisfaction of achieving my goals, so this really motivates me. I also have the mindset that if I am going to do something, it will be to the best of my ability. Further, it helps that I take subjects and do sports that I am actually interested in, making learning and studying more enjoyable, and therefore meaning I am more motivated and likely to succeed.

How did your teachers influence you and / or assist you to achieve to yur best?

My teachers are all very encouraging and supportive, and provide great resources for study, but also are available to answer any questions and give feedback on things like essays. I like when teachers allow us to do our own work in areas we need to improve on but are there to help if needed.

Tell us about the process you follow to overcome a difficult aspect of study?

I find that the hardest aspect of studying is having the motivation to keep going, so I think it’s important to just remind yourself about why you are doing it and how it will benefit your future. Sitting exams is always less stressful if you are well prepared which is a valuable thought to keep in mind too. It’s also always helpful to take breaks and treat yourself with good food or a movie.

What are your goals / aspirations?

Next year, I want to endorse NCEA Level 3 with excellence and continue achieving highly academically. I then want to go to university and get a degree in either commerce, science, or law. After uni, I think it would be really cool to travel overseas and experience working in different countries.

Maori and Pasifika Awards

TOP FEMALE ALL-ROUND STUDENT, TE KAHA O MURIWAI, TIKANGA MAORI TAONGA - TUTARA WANANGA - Kaahukurauenuku Rakaupai

My aspirations in order to represent the mauri that are held in these awards is that I will continue to uphold the mana and meaning of each and every reward I have received with dignity throughout my studies in Auckland.

The advice I give to students who aspire to achieve one or more of the supreme rewards is to always devote your time into what you believe will make a positive difference within not only your time as year 13 but your future aspirations. Always find a way to educate yourself from both your teachers and your peers. Make yourself vulnerable to make mistakes in front of other learners in order to grow together, then you can fully express your true potential.

Receiving these awards have helped me build the confidence to pursue my career of becoming a primary school teacher within both English and Māori mediums. It has offered me a feeling of gratitude from the school and motivation in myself to never doubt my abilities to success no matter what situation is placed in front of me. As long as I am grateful for the support given to me from the school community, my friends and my whānau. I will forever pursue my future aspirations on behalf of them all.

NGAI TAMARAWAHO TAONGA - Journey Angell-Kennedy

My aspiration is to keep true to my word, and my reasons why. I will continue to represent and include Māoridom in every aspect of my life. To honour Ngai Tamarawaho, is to firstly Honour Te Tiriti O Waitangi. I will represent the mauri of this award by speaking up about social inequalities and wrong doings on this land; Ihumātao, Rua Kenana, Parihaka, Te Ranga, and many more.

My advice is to always know your worth, and to not let anyone take your mana away from you. Only you have that right. Stand up for social inequalities; everyone has a voice, it’s a matter of if you will use it. Manifest your goals and know you have the power to choose what happens next. I challenge you to show western society that we, as the Indigenous of this land, that we are not their stereotypes. We are Tangata Whenua. Rangatahi that descend from greatness. Kia kaha, Kia Maia, Kia Manawanui e hoa!

The Ngai Tamarawaho Award in the physical reminds me to remember my roots, and to use my voice as my Māori tupuna were once denied it. For me, this award has many aspects of how it shapes my future goals. The reasoning behind it, and my kaiako and whanau who have helped me get to where I am today. They are the first successors. Without the tautoko and encouragement for Rangatahi Māori, it is easy to see that I would not be who I am as an individual today, as a Mana Wāhine Toa. That being said, institutions such as Poutama within kura and its support to see me as a person has provided greatly into shaping me into the person I am at present, and will continue to do so for my future, and my goals. #MANAMĀORI