Phoebe Mulry-Climpson was surrounded by friends who “erupted with cheering” when she was announced as Golden Bay High School’s dux for 2023.
She says that although her grades weren’t as strong as they were in Year 12, when she achieved straight excellence grades, she had hoped she may still be in with a shot at picking up the top award.
“This year I got a few too many merits… I was overwhelmed but so happy.”
The 17-year-old Clifton resident recalls looking out into the audience when she walked on stage to receive the cup and seeing her proud mum crying. Phoebe says her highlight of the year was a biology trip to Cawthron Institute north of Nelson where she got an up-close look at part of the region’s mussel industry.
“The technology was just so advanced.”
While she doesn’t have a set career path in mind, a Bachelor of Science majoring in Biochemistry and Botany is what she will study when she heads to Otago University next year.
“I don’t have a set career path but maybe lab work, working in a university. I’m trying to leave my options open and do broad papers so I can specialise when I decide which direction I want to take.”
She says chemistry ended up being her favourite subject at school.
“I found it to be my most difficult subject, so it was the most rewarding. The was a lot of content. It was good though because we had a small class, so the learning was individualised.”
Phoebe says she will spend the summer waitressing at Ratanui Lodge, tramping, and spending time with friends and family before heading to Dunedin in February.
“Just making the most of the Golden Bay summer.”
She credits her dux award to prioritising her schoolwork and supportive teachers.
“I did do a bit of leadership stuff, but I prioritised schoolwork. It was hard trying to balance everything, but schoolwork has to come first. Last year I studied a lot, probably too much. I was always the person to ask questions in class, probably to an annoying extent.
“It’s given me more confidence that I can go out and achieve well. Living in a rural community you can’t compare yourself with how other schools are doing.”
