Moving from Auckland to a sleepy rural settlement would be a far cry from typical teen life, but identical twins Faith and Esther Scott hit their straps in Murchison.
The 17-year-olds were announced Murchison Area School’s conjoined dux on 6 December for their academic and volleyball excellence, with principal Andy Ashworth adding they will be “leading lights” at the University of Otago in 2025.
The twins had always pursued good academic records and were grateful to earn the top prize from a shallow pool of five Year 13 students.
“I think it was really cool because we went from sharing a room and stuff to sharing a dux award,” Esther says.
“We used to hate each other when we were younger, we would fight all the time, but I reckon one of the best things [about being a twin] is that you've always got a friend and someone who is like-minded.
“Everywhere we go, there will always be someone that we can talk to, and just having that support is really great.”
Murchison came knocking for the Scotts in 2022 when their parents wanted to escape Manurewa in South Auckland, where the twins had always lived.
Faith says the upheaval was baby steps coming from a high school with around 2000 students, but it was also met with pleasantly surprising opportunities.
These included attending the Rotary National Science and Technology Forum kudos to the school and wider community support and her and Esther competing in volleyball at the National Area Schools Tournament.
The forum is a programme for high-achieving Year 12 students in science, maths or technology.
Faith was also one of the head students this year with Esther one of the deputies and both have procured NCEA Level 3 with excellence to go alongside their NCEA Level 1 certificate with the same endorsement and NCEA Level 2 with merit.
Faith attributed her academic prowess to taking a keen interest in science subjects, which also became her epiphany for her chosen study at the University of Otago next year.
“I really love science, and I didn't really know what I wanted to do until late last year or early this year, but I've been doing biology and chemistry throughout NCEA,” she says.
“I had recently read a book about the evolution of the human brain, and I was like, ‘wow, that's really cool,' and it turns out that it really fits with the subjects that I love.
“I'm planning to do a Bachelor of Science, majoring in neuroscience and minoring in chemistry at Otago next year, and I think that really helps in terms of getting those really good grades [in science].”
Esther was also dubious about her career until last year.
“I really wanted to take sociology as a subject, but they didn't have it at level three, so I just did psychology and taking it I was like, ‘wow, this is so cool’, she says.
“I was really into the lessons, and gender studies is something that I've wanted to study for ages, especially as a genderqueer person.
“I'm doing a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in psychology and minoring in gender studies at Otago next year.”
The twins got awards for their subjects at their school’s prizegiving and have also earned the McKee Charitable Trust Tertiary Scholarship and the University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship which have a combined value of $19,500.
“We were super stoked, every single bit really helps because university is not cheap,” Esther says.
“Since we got dux, we're probably in the running for the University of Otago Dux Scholarship as well.”
The twins await their next chapter in the Edinburgh of the South.
