It has been a busy few days for Miss Rosevear since being named as one of two recipients of supreme awards at last week's annual Dunedin Stars awards.
Two days after the awards night at the Dunedin Railway Station Scotia Restaurant, the year 13 Taieri College pupil was being introduced to thousands of attendees at the Christmas in the Octagon concert before helping mayor Peter Chin lead the crowd in a countdown to the lighting of the Octagon's giant Christmas tree.
Later in the weekend Miss Rosevear, along with Dunedin Stars Community Spirit supreme award recipient Wax Preston, was a special guest at the Mayor's Carols concert in the Regent Theatre.
The Dunedin Stars 2008 merit award recipients, Sharon McKenzie, Cory Sutherland, Felicity Prescott and Netta Noone, were also offered frontrow seats at the concert.
It had all been a lot of fun and a great way to ‘‘get you into the Christmas spirit,'' Miss Rosevear said.
Among all the busyness, however, Miss Rosevear has been reflecting on the influences that have shaped her and the motivation for her voluntary activities.
Miss Rosevear was chosen to receive the award because of her roles as student representative on the school's board of trustees, a member of the Dunedin City Council Youth Council, an active member of her church, a tireless collector for charity and a young woman with a great concern for others.
On her 18th birthday, Emma spent the night in a cardboard box to raise awareness of poverty and to raise money for charity.
At Taieri College's recent prizegiving, Emma received the ANZ award for the student showing outstanding abilities to lead and inspire.
The award was a ‘‘huge honour'' but her activities were simply ‘‘a chance to give back to a community that has done a huge amount for me'', she said.
Her parents, John and Karen, had been a strong positive influence. ‘‘They always taught us to look out for other people, not just yourself,'' she said.
Catholic primary school and church had also played a part in helping her to ‘‘treat other people the way I'd want to be treated''. ‘‘I often see people who need help but don't ask. ‘‘I want to make a difference, helping others achieve their goals.''
An inspiring example of that ethos was French nun Suzanne Aubert, who Miss Rosevear had researched for a history project this year.
‘‘She came to New Zealand in the 1890s and started the first creche for mothers who needed to go to work. Here was a person I didn't know, who had done heaps of amazing work helping others.''
John Rosevear is ‘‘very proud'' of his daughter's choices and achievements.
‘‘It is not easy for a child who has a disabled parent,'' Mr Rosevear, who has multiple sclerosis, said. ‘‘They have to learn to be caring, and that is certainly the case for Emma.''
Miss Rosevear will be studying at the University of Otago next year but plans to continue to be involved in voluntary activities. ‘‘I always want to be able to help, no matter where I'm at,'' she said.
‘‘You might not get anything back but it's not about that, it's about other people.''
