Nor'West News: May 24, 2016

18
Tuesday May 24 2016
I have never regretted my
decision to go to Hillmorton
High School. I genuinely
believe it helped shape me into
the person I am today.
Hillmorton was a combination
of different people and cultures
like no other place I had been
– it made me learn to deal
with many types of people.
The school was smaller than
others in the area which I liked:
I wanted to be a person not a
number.
I had so many great experiences
at Hillmorton – playing in the
school softball and netball teams
and going to tournaments, being
When it came time to choosing
a high school, my parents asked
me which Open Nights I would
like to attend. My response was
‘Hillmorton’. I am more than
pleased with my decision to
study at Hillmorton and do not
regret it in the slightest.
Hillmorton provided me with a
wealth of opportunities to learn
in different environments, and
challenged me to achieve with
each and every opportunity.
I was also lucky enough to meet
a great “melting pot” of people,
Hillmorton High
helped me realise
my passion and
to not be afraid to
go after what feels
right. I discovered
that it’s okay to
live differently
and not go for
the job that was
stable, that paid
the most or that
was expected by
others. Hillmorton
helped me find
myself. I also
began to learn and
accept challenges
that were and
are bigger than
myself, and learn
to never yield or give up but to
push further than what I think I
am capable of.
Te Kura Tuarua o Horomaka
Hillmorton High School
Sam Baxter – Hillmorton like a family
Samantha Baxter is Content
Producer for Si & Gary, More
FM Breakfast.
in school productions, travelling
I was able to
learn life skills
and important
personal qualities
that are valuable.
I learnt that if you
work hard enough,
you’ll achieve
your goals.
I’m currently in
my final year at
Unitec, Auckland,
doing a Bachelor
While at Hillmorton, in Performing
Marianne Infante Arts, majoring in
discovered a passion and screen and theatre
gift for the Performing acting.
Arts. She is now in her Soon, I’m off to
final year of study in London as part of
Auckland.
my secondment in
my final year and
I cannot wait! I look forward to
finishing this year and gaining
my degree.
www.hillmorton.school.nz
to Spain for three weeks with
classmates and teachers for
one of the most unforgettable
experiences of my life.
After school, I went on to get a
degree at Canterbury University
and now work in my dream job
as the Content Producer for
the Simon Barnett and Gary
McCormick Breakfast show on
MORE FM.
Looking back at my time at
Hillmorton I know now that I
would never have got through
that critical time in my life
without the support of my
teachers and peers. Hillmorton
is like a family.
Nick Phillips – Hillmorton lives by its
vision: Personal best, nothing less!
Nick Phillips was Dux and
Woolhouse Scholar in 2008.
He is now practising law in
Wellington.
Marianne Infante – The
world’s her stage now
which has helped me to relate
to, and understand the different
people that I interact with on a
day-to-day basis.
The teachers are second-tonone,
and genuinely care about
the education of their students.
They, and the other Hillmorton
staff, encourage students to
achieve to the best of their
abilities, whilst also making
time to help those students who
need additional assistance.
Hillmorton lives by its vision –
Personal best, nothing less!
The education I received at Hillmorton
has prepared me admirably for starting
university this year. Teachers at
Hillmorton always went the extra mile
to make their subjects challenging and
interesting, and support was always
there.
Hillmorton provides a diverse
cultural environment as well as
After graduating from
Hillmorton High School in
2012, I enrolled at the University
of Canterbury to study for a
Bachelor of Engineering in
Civil Engineering.
Now in my final year of the
degree, I am well on my way
to achieving this with first
class honours. I received the
University of Canterbury Senior
Scholarship.
Currently, I have the
extraordinary opportunity of
completing some of my study
at the University of California
at Berkeley. During high school
heaps of sporting, musical and drama
opportunities which makes its students
such strong, well-rounded citizens.
After almost a semester at university,
I’m getting a sense that in order to
succeed here, you need to get along
well with everyone and to study hard.
Hillmorton taught me the importance
of both.
NOR’WEST NEWS
Jamie Whiting – From
Hillmorton to Berkekey
Jamie Whiting was Dux in 2012 and is studying to be a civil
engineer.
James Adams – Well prepared
I never thought I would study
at one of the top universities in
the world, but here I am. Living
in the San Francisco area and
having this opportunity to study
abroad has been life changing,
to say the least.
Looking forward to next year,
I will begin working as a
structural engineer at one of
the biggest civil engineering
firms in the world. The future
in this role will enable me to
travel the world while working
on the design and construction
of world class buildings and
facilities.
James Adams was Woolhouse Scholar and Proxime accessit in 2015. He is now studying law,
international relations and politics at the University of Auckland.