As one of the school’s top IBDP students – with an outstanding 42/45 points – Aria is now perfectly placed to pursue her dream of becoming a structural engineer. This month she begins her four-year civil engineering degree at the University of Auckland and believes that the IB has given her the ideal foundation for tertiary success.
“I have two cousins who graduated from IB a long time before I did. They shared their experiences with me, so I know first-hand how well IB prepares students for university,” says Aria.
“By the time we get to tertiary level, IB graduates are already used to things like writing research papers and including bibliographies. Although these things can be a bit time-consuming, they’re actually so helpful later on!”
Aria applied to universities across New Zealand and Australia, receiving offers from all of them. However, the security of home in such uncertain times proved to be a compelling drawcard.
“During the pandemic, I’ve received so much support from my family, friends, teachers and classmates in New Zealand and feel very lucky and grateful for it. It has made me realise I perform best in New Zealand both academically and personally, which is why I’ve decided to stay here.”
In the two years she spent at ACG Parnell College, Aria flourished.
“I loved the comforting atmosphere at school. Classes are small, and teachers are always willing to answer our questions and offer solutions. I particularly enjoyed doing the CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) project as it prompts us to focus on our life beyond academia.
“I’m not naturally a sporty person, but I picked up golf through CAS, and I really started to enjoy it. It became part of my weekly routine and my way of relaxing from my academic studies, and even now that CAS has ended, I’m still playing!”
Discovering a passion for pursuits outside of the classroom was just one of the many benefits Aria gained from the IBDP.
“I feel delighted and lucky to have studied this programme. As well as boosting my academic development, the course elements have honed my decision making and leadership skills. The various projects we had to complete have helped me greatly with personal development – I don’t believe I would have achieved that with other academic programmes.”
Of the many lessons she learnt during her time at ACG, Aria believes mastering the art of time management was one of the most life-changing.
“I used to spend so much time researching and worrying about each assignment that I’d run out of time to turn my ideas into reality and polish my work. I learnt that actually getting things done is the most crucial part.
“ACG taught me to stop procrastinating. It’s never as hard as we think it’s going to be… we just have to start!”
