I am a NCEA Year 13 student attending Rangitoto College. Since Year 9 I have been self motivated to achieve across all aspects of school life. Since my Junior years, and now into the Senior NCEA years, my drive has always been supported by my teachers to achieve the highest Excellence results. In NCEA Level 1 I took English, Mathematics, Sport Science, Extension Sciences and Extension Geography in which I achieved Level 1 Excellence Endorsement – in four subjects, and overall, I passed comfortably with Level 1 Excellence Endorsement. Additionally, I am grateful to be involved in extension courses; whilst these classes promote a healthy competitive environment, you are encouraged and positively urged to think beyond the curriculum whilst striving for personal excellence.

In Year 12 I enrolled in Geography and Health and Physical Education Scholarship as part of the Academic Scholars programme. This programme involves Year 12 and 13 students who are striving, and/or with the potential to achieve Scholarship; students attend workshops that give them tips on how to balance your studies, start preparing for multiple Scholarship subjects, and how to gain that competitive edge. These sessions are a clear testament to how the teachers at Rangitoto College want students to challenge themselves, ask and seek feedback to engage deep thinking and form the understanding that they are supported on their Scholarship journey.

As well as being an academic student I am heavily involved within all aspects of sport and leadership opportunities offered by Rangitoto College. Regarding sport I have partaken in over ten sports out of the wide variety the College has to offer, competing at Regional levels for many and attending as well as highly achieving (Athletics) in four New Zealand Secondary School Sporting Championships (Athletics, Touch Rugby, Beach Volleyball and Indoor Volleyball). Within the Leadership and Service realm of the College I have been a part of many of the Colleges Leadership teams since Year 9 and partaking in additional leadership roles and experiences I have been offered by the College. I am extremely grateful for these experiences and opportunities Rangitoto College’s diverse environment has provided me. My teachers are extremely considerate and understanding of my additional school commitments that can take time out of the learning, going above and beyond to support and aid me with any academic concerns I have.

I am truly grateful for my time so far at Rangitoto College that has shaped me into the well rounded, academically engaged and sport enthusiast I am today. I can attend the College knowing that myself as well as all students are supported, encouraged and celebrated by all staff aiming to help every student reach their full potential academically and as a person.

If I had to describe my experience at Rangitoto College in one word, it would be transformative. As a Year 12 student completing the IB Diploma Programme, I’ve come to see Rangitoto College as much more than a place of academic achievement – it’s where I’ve been challenged, supported, and encouraged to grow in every aspect of who I am, both inside and outside the classroom.

I chose the IB pathway because I wanted to engage deeply – not just with content, but with ideas, perspectives, and values. My subjects (HL Chemistry, Biology, and English, SL Psychology, Maths AA, and Chinese) reflect my interest in both the sciences and the human experience. What I’ve valued most about the IB is how it teaches you to think – to ask questions, to reflect, and to keep pushing beyond surface-level understanding. TOK and the Extended Essay have taught me to explore complexity with independence and curiosity.

Outside of class, I’ve been fortunate to take part in scholarship courses for English, Health and Physical Education, Psychology, as well as Olympiad classes for Chemistry and Biology. These classes have helped me explore subjects I’m passionate about in more depth and have connected me with teachers and peers who are just as driven and excited to learn. It’s made a big difference to be in an environment where people believe in your potential – sometimes even before you believe in it yourself.

Beyond academics, some of my most meaningful experiences have come through service and leadership. I currently lead multiple service-based clubs, including Red Cross, Hospice, and Mental Wellbeing Wave – each one focused on a cause I care deeply about. Through these roles, I’ve organised events, led initiatives, and worked with amazing students who care about making a difference. I’ve learned how to lead with empathy, how to collaborate, and how to serve in a way that feels real and impactful. One of the things I’m proudest of this year is actually founding Rangitoto College’s first Ethics Olympiad Club. I saw a gap for students who wanted to explore moral reasoning and real-world issues through discussion and debate, so I decided to create a space for that. Since then, the club has grown into a community of curious, open-minded thinkers. As someone who has competed nationally in the Ethics Olympiad, and fortunate enough to receive the prestigious Gold Award, it’s been incredibly rewarding to pass on the knowledge and help others find their voice through critical thought.

These experiences have also shaped my IB CAS journey, which has become less of a requirement and more of a genuine reflection of my life. Whether I’m coaching swimming, composing music, or leading community projects, I’ve learned to find growth in unexpected places. Coaching has taught me patience and responsibility, while music has become a way to express myself and process the world around me. CAS has shown me that learning doesn’t only happen in the classroom. Instead, it’s something you live and breathe through real experiences. In the same way, Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay aren’t just academic components of IB – they’re opportunities to explore personal interests, think critically, and write in a way that mirrors university-level work. The challenge of crafting a 4,000-word essay around a passion is both demanding and deeply rewarding.

What I’ve come to appreciate most about Rangitoto is the way it makes room for all kinds of growth. Whether it’s through leadership, scholarship, or simply being surrounded by people who want to do well and do good, I’ve felt encouraged to keep stretching, learning, and becoming more of who I want to be. I’m still figuring a lot of things out – but I know that being here has given me a strong foundation to keep building from.

My name is Ivan, I’m originally from Moscow, Russia, where I lived for the first 14 years of my life. I moved to New Zealand near the end of Year 9, which was a big shift for me. Everything felt new: the language, the culture, and the education system. But from the moment I started at Rangitoto College, I felt like I was in the right place. The school has such a positive and welcoming environment. People here are open-minded, friendly, and always willing to help, which made settling in so much easier.

One of the things I really appreciate about Rangitoto College is the balance between support and challenge. The teachers truly care about our progress, and there’s a real sense of motivation around the campus. That’s part of what encouraged me to take the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The way we learn in IB is very different from traditional schooling. Instead of just memorising facts, we’re taught to actually understand and apply the knowledge. Everything is connected. We learn to make links between different subjects, reflect on our own learning, and think globally.

On top of our six core subjects, there are also three major parts that make IB unique: CAS, TOK, and the Extended Essay. CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) helps us stay involved outside the classroom and develop new skills. TOK (Theory of Knowledge) challenges us to question how we know what we know and think more deeply about knowledge itself. The Extended Essay is an independent research project where we do research about a topic we care about and write a full academic paper.

I’m currently taking Physics, Mathematics, English, Russian, Business Management, and Geography. It’s a pretty diverse set of subjects, and I really enjoy how they each offer something different. Physics and Math help me think logically and solve problems. English and Russian give me space to explore language, literature, and culture. Business helps me understand the world of economics and management, and Geography allows me to look at global issues. I feel like I’m learning something valuable in every class. I chose IB because I wanted something that would push me and prepare me for the future not just for university, but for life. IB encourages you to think critically, to manage your time effectively, and to explore ideas from different perspectives. It doesn’t just teach you content, it helps you grow as a learner and as a person. Even though it can be intense at times, I’ve never doubted that I made the right decision.

Being part of the IB programme at Rangitoto College is something I’m genuinely proud of.

It’s not always easy, but the support around me from classmates, teachers, and the wider

school community makes a big difference. I’m thankful to be part of a programme that

challenges me and a school which I go to.