Kia Ora! My name is Sum Yee and I am from Hong Kong. I came to New Zealand in 2010 as a Year 11 student and studied at Rangitoto College for my last three years of school, leaving in 2012.
Looking back at my time at Rangi, I have loved every single minute of school, made some of my best memories in life. My English was not fluent when I first came to New Zealand but people were all willing to help and I realized that language barrier is not a big issue at all. Everyone at school is really welcoming and friendly so you will never feel lonely. Additionally, I have made lifelong friendships here at Rangi. Rangi is the largest school in New Zealand with endless exciting and challenging opportunities and activities happening every day. You get to make new friends every day and expand your social circle during your time at Rangi. I loved the hustle and bustle around me every day especially during morning tea and lunch time - you could be meeting friends who are new to New Zealand, trying to get that last potato top pie at the bottom tuck shop, trying to protect your sandwiches being eaten by the seagulls or trying to find a spot in A block with your huge group of friends during winter time.
Furthermore, Rangi has changed my opinion about school, student life and education. School life in Hong Kong is so different to New Zealand because academic subjects are always the most important out of all. Subjects like Art, PE or Graphics are seen as not as important as Chinese, English and Mathematics because people think that studying these subjects won’t help you earn good money or get a job in the future. Every single subject is equally important at Rangi, and we were encouraged to think outside the box and explore topics out of the syllabus. The diversity of subjects enabled us to explore as many options as possible before moving on to our next stage of life. I chose tourism as one of my option in Year 12 and 13, a subject I had never thought of studying before coming to New Zealand. There is also many different activities for us to join. Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, an absolute beginner or an expert, there is something for you to join. While I was there, I had the chance to participate as both back stage and dancer in Stage Challenge, which is a dance, drama and design competition for all schools in New Zealand. Rangi has influenced me to step out of my comfort zone and explore new opportunities and things, including skydiving in Queenstown. I have become more outgoing and adventurous after studying at Rangi.
After finishing high school, I completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney before doing my Master of Heritage Conservation (Built Heritage) at the University of Auckland. It is exciting to be the first person to earn this Masters and I am hoping to use my skills to play an on-going role in heritage conservation here in New Zealand.
Last but not least, the homestay office at Rangi made the best match for me. Apart from my biological family, my host family, the Barry’s family, is now my other family. They treated me like their real daughter and sister and they are one of the reasons why I love New Zealand so much and had my best time of life here! I never had homesickness when I was in New Zealand thanks to them and we made heaps of amazing memories together. A big shout out to the Barry for all their support and love and I am really grateful to have them in my life.
Thank you my parents, host family and everyone at Rangi and New Zealand for giving me the opportunities and shaping who I am today. I would highly and 120% truly recommend Rangi to people who are considering studying abroad to create the most amazing and sweet as memories and experience!
我的名字叫林琛怡,在2010年由香港來到紐西蘭Rangitoto學院讀 11年班,至2012年完成我的中學課程。
回想這三年,我每分鐘都是那麽享受著Rangi帶給我多姿多彩的校園生活;初到紐西蘭時,我的英文並不流利,但是同學們都願意幫助我,我不感到孤單;我在Rangi結交到知心好友,我們最喜歡每天在小息和午餐時跑去小食部搶買最後一塊薯餅、為了保護我的三明治免被聰明的海鷗搶走跟牠們鬥智。
在Rangi,每個科目同樣重要,老師鼓勵我們跳出框框去思考,鼓勵我們去探索新事物,從探索中尋找答案,因而我選讀旅遊科,在來紐西蘭之前我從來沒想過有這門課程, 旅遊科涉足之廣泛令我大開眼界,學習令我樂在其中;我更有機會參加全國校際舞蹈賽,還有戲劇和設計比賽,Rangi不僅改變了我的人生觀,也影響了我對教育的看法,更令我變得更外向和富探索精神。
高中畢業後,我去澳洲悉尼大學修讀,然後再回來奧克蘭大學攻讀文物保護(建築文物)碩士學位,有幸成為第一個碩士畢業生,我希望能夠用我所學回饋紐西蘭,在文物保護工作中發揮作長。
最後,一定要提到的是我的寄宿家庭 Barry’s family,除了香港外,Barry’s family是我的另一個家,他們待我如親生女兒一樣,我一直沒有講感謝之言,在這裡也要說句: Barry’s family,我愛你們。
我感謝我的父母,我的寄宿家庭以及在Rangi和紐西蘭遇過的每一個人,給予我機會,塑造了我今天的我,令我的人生有著美好和最甜蜜的回憶和體驗!