Jonah Smith and Laura Bungard are the 2019 Class Act recipients for Taieri College.
Jonah Smith
Jonah Smith
''Some people know what they want to do straight away, and I'm almost envious of them.''
Taieri College prefect Jonah Smith (17) says choosing a career path has been one of his greatest challenges this year.
''Because I could do quite a few things, it's hard for me to decide what I want to do. I'm worried I'll make the wrong choice.''
The Canadian-born 17-year-old excels in a wide range of subjects.
He finished first in class for science, mathematics, geography, graphics and Japanese in 2017, and first in class for chemistry, physics, geography and mathematics last year.
He has also achieved NCEA levels 1 and 2 with excellence, received academic blues awards in 2017 and 2018, and is receiving maths tuition from the University of Otago as part of an Otago Mathematics Association Scholarship this year.
Although he is especially good at calculus, he has a great passion for the sciences - hence his dilemma.
After taking advice from people he looks up to, he has come to the realisation that just because you are good at something, it does not mean that you should make it your career.
''I'm pretty good at calculus, but a career using calculus - I'm not too keen on that. I wouldn't enjoy it.
''I've thought about it for a long time and I've decided health sciences is what I really want to do.''
So next year, he plans to study health sciences at the University of Otago.
But having made the decision, he now has some new decisions to make - like whether to pursue medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, biological sciences, or research.
''It could be a lot of things right now. I'll know much better once I start the course.
''For now, I want to keep my options open, but my dream job would be to become a doctor or to do something in medical research.''
He said if he was to pursue medical research, it would be in something that would give meaning to his life and career.
''Something that would help humanity - like curing a disease.''
Achievements: Environmental prefect (2019); Taieri College Eco-warriors co-leader (2019); NCEA levels 1 and 2 with excellence; 1st in class for science, mathematics, geography, graphics and Japanese (2017); 1st in class for chemistry, physics, geography and mathematics (2018); academic Blues (2017, 2018); Otago Mathematics Association Scholarship (2019); Science Trust Awards in astronomy, geology, human biology and ornithology; Language Championships Gold Award (2016); top 30 NZ junior mathematics competition (2016); school award for excellence in writing; 3rd in International Youth Silent Film Festival NZ finals (2018); church youth group leader (2019).
Role models: My parents.
Hopes for the future: To study health sciences at the University of Otago.
Laura Bungard
Laura Bungard
Stopping Laura Bungard for a five-minute conversation is a rare achievement these days.
The 18-year-old Taieri College prefect always seems to be on the move, training for running or swimming competitions.
During the past two years, Laura has racked up significant success in swimming, where she has reached the heights of winning silver medals in the New Zealand Division II Swimming Championships 100m individual medley in 2018, and in the 200m breaststroke this year.
But more recently, she has pursued middle distance running, and now has a taste for gold after winning medals in local, regional and national competitions.
Laura is this year's Otago secondary schools cross-country and triathlon champions, she was 29th at the New Zealand Secondary School Cross Country Championships, she has won the Lovelock Relays and the Ponydales Leith Cross Country Relays, and was second in the Secondary Schools Wanaka Challenge and the Otago Secondary Schools Athletics 3000m.
She hopes one day to represent New Zealand as a runner at a world championship event, the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.
''I'd be cool to represent the Silver Fern.
''I'm taking it season by season, trying to keep on improving and see where it takes me.''
Next year, Laura plans to study health sciences at the University of Otago, and go on to become a medical laboratory scientist.
She wants to get into haematology - a branch of medicine that studies the cause, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to blood.
Achievements: Prefect (2019); peer mediator (2017, 2018, 2019); school sports council (2017, 2018, 2019); NCEA levels 1 and 2 with excellence; 1st in physical education (2017, 2018); 1st in art design (2018); school prizes for geography, mathematics and science (2017), biology and chemistry (2018); academic blues (2017, 2018); Rotary National Science and Technology Forum (2019), selected as one of six new leaders for the 2020 forum; Taieri Swimming Club coach (2017-19); pool lifeguard (2018-19); Sir Peter Blake Young Leader Award (2014); school senior B netball team (2017-19), captain (2018, 2019); senior A volleyball team (2016-19); 63rd in New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross-country (2017); 1st NZ Division II 50m, 100m, 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley (2018); 2nd in NZ Division II 100m individual medley (2018), qualified for National Age Groups and NZ Short Course (2018); 2nd in Otago secondary school cross country championships (2018); second in NZ Division II 200m breaststroke (2019), qualified for National Age Groups and NZ Short Course (2019); Otago Secondary School cross country champion (2019); 29th at NZ Secondary School cross country championships (2019); Hill City University Athletics and Harriers Club member (2019); Open Women’s Cross-Country team (2019), won the Lovelock Relays and the Ponydales Leith Cross Country Relays (2019); 1st in Otago Secondary School Triathlon Championship (2019); 2nd in Secondary Schools Wanaka Challenge (2019); 2nd in Otago Secondary Schools Athletics 3000m (2019); Otago U19 Volleyball team (2019).
Role model: My running coach Geoff Williamson and swimming coach Lars Humer.
Hopes for the future: To study health sciences at the University of Otago.
