I am a Year 13 NCEA student at Rangitoto College. From the start of my high school journey, I have been continuously challenged to pursue academic excellence, guided by the never-ending support and encouragement of my teachers. In my junior years, I was selected for one of the college’s core extension tutor classes, where I discovered my passion for literature and achieved Top of English in Year 10. This strong foundation led me to senior extension pathways. As a Year 11 student, while still exploring my future options, I took an array of extension courses across English, History, Science, and Calculus, as well as Drama. That year, I successfully achieved the newly introduced government co-requisites and passed the school’s Year 11 Diploma with high grades. These diplomas, like those in the junior school, require not only academic achievement but also involvement in service, sports, and cultural activities, which helped me build a more well-rounded foundation. In Year 12, as I narrowed my subject choices to align with my goal of studying law, I continued to challenge myself by taking extension courses in English, History, and Biology, as well as Art History, Classical Studies, and Calculus.

A defining aspect of my senior years has been my involvement in the Scholarship pathways Rangitoto offers. The school greatly encourages students to push themselves by enrolling in NCEA Scholarship exams early on. In Year 11, I began this Scholarship journey by sitting the History exam and successfully passing NCEA Spanish Scholarship. In Year 12, I expanded this challenge by entering five Scholarship exams: English, History, Art History, Psychology, and Spanish. While I gained a Spanish Scholarship, the preparation for the other four papers gave me key insights into how Scholarship exams work and the best ways to prepare for them. As a Year 13 student, rather than extension classes, Rangitoto offers curricular Scholarship courses. These courses work at a quicker pace to allow students to achieve their Level 3 work faster in order to prepare for Scholarship. For me, these courses include English, History, and Statistics, alongside outside-of-class courses for Spanish, Media, Art History, Psychology, and Health and PE Scholarships.

Beyond the classroom, I have been heavily involved in leadership and the performing arts. I have been a member of various leadership teams since Year 9, including being a KidsCan Club leader since Year 10. The college’s leadership development programmes in Years 11 and 12 helped me become an Arts Leader and Deputy Head Girl, but more importantly, they helped me grow as a leader. Within the performing arts, I have been in several productions, competed at the Premier Advanced level in debating, and sung in our premier upper-voices choir, Serenata, which has been selected for the National Finale for the third consecutive year. Balancing these commitments has not always been easy; however, the support and understanding from my teachers have ensured I can be involved without compromising my academic standards.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have received at Rangitoto College. Whether inside or outside the classroom, the school has supported me every step of the way, continuously pushing me to achieve my potential, even during moments when I doubted it was possible. My teachers have not only celebrated my success but have also been there to offer feedback and support in areas I needed to improve. This encouraging environment has pushed me to become an outstanding, well-rounded scholar. My time at the college has been immensely rewarding, and it has undoubtedly prepared me for university and beyond.

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.