Waimea College dux Becky Spurgeon is aiming at becoming a doctor and has already had a taste of her future career after shadowing a specialist in a hospital and working in an aged-care centre.
Becky is now heading into a part gap year to earn some money before heading back to England to begin studying medicine in September.
Her family has been in New Zealand since October 2021 and she returned in June this year to attend open days at universities, and while there she had a placement for a few days with a radiologist in a hospital.
It was an opportunity to watch surgeries as well as spend time in the paediatric department which was quite different to her part-time work through the year at Arvida Oakwood’s aged care centre.
“I like the way it makes a difference to their lives (aged care). Even by offering a reassuring presence. You see what people are going through – and their families.”
When Becky began Year 12, she had already studied the year’s science curriculum in England so studied year 13 sciences, which meant by the time she got to Year 13 she could choose other subjects. In Year 13 she was also an academic captain, and at the end of the year was part of a mentoring programme with Year 11 students to help them prepare for exams.
The English schooling system is more intense, but Becky says the New Zealand system is more appealing.
“It’s a lot more casual in New Zealand and you have more time to do what you want to do, which is enjoyable.”
While New Zealand’s casual approach was one of the biggest differences between the two countries, “people walking around barefooted” was particularly quirky.
When she returns to England it will be a different lifestyle to the one she has had here.
“I’ve loved being close to beaches. It makes it feel we’re on holiday. Most of the time I’ve been in New Zealand I’ve had that holiday mindset.”
Outside of school she has been a regular runner on Waimea Harriers’ weekly 5km runs, which she insists she does for fun because she has been running with her father from an early age, but she also sets goals to improve her personal best.
“I find it good to set goals outside of academic goals. I am goal-orientated and it’s rewarding meeting goals.”
