Student of world takes chance
A trip off the beaten path has led a former Nelson student to a leading United States university.
Richmond’s Brittany Dick, the 2015 dux of Waimea College, has been admitted to Minerva Schools at KGI, a top 100-ranked university globally that each year accepts just 1 per cent of applicants.
Described as an experimental university in San Francisco, it is an alliance between Minerva Project, a venture-backed forprofit company, and Keck Graduate Institute, one of California’s Claremont colleges.
It is understood that Dick is the first New Zealander to be accepted. She will head to San Francisco in August, where she will begin a four-year degree with an eye towards majoring in business or social sciences in her second year.
She will move cities each semester, with Seoul, Hyderabad, Berlin, Buenos Aires, London and Taipei among the destinations.
While there is some uncertainty around international travel given the Covid-19 situation, Dick said the benefits of the internet age would bridge any potential barriers to learning.
‘‘A lot of the classes are taken online anyway, because the professors are worldwide – some are at Oxford, some are at Harvard. That means we can technically study from anywhere.’’
The time since secondary school has broadened Dick’s collection of passport stamps, not to mention her world view that led her towards Minerva.
She initially moved to London after finishing at Waimea College, with plans to attend Cardiff University in Wales. However, unable to fund the £30,000 annual tuition costs, she stayed on in London to work fulltime and travel for the next three years.
She said that while visiting Egypt and Morocco, she developed a wider appreciation for the global community.
‘‘A lot of people will tell you not to go there because it’s dangerous or whatever, but they’re genuinely the friendliest people you’ll ever meet . . . what they have, they will share.
‘‘There’s a real disconnect between how people are portrayed and how they actually live their lives, but beyond that, I think the reason this disconnect exists is because we don’t have bigger access to that globalised education system where we can learn more about other countries’ history.
‘‘Ultimately, if we’re going to move forward as a society, then we’re going to have to be open to other mindsets.’’
Having not seen her family for two years, Dick moved back to New Zealand in October last year and made the decision to apply for Minerva.
Living and studying alongside people from different cultures was a big drawcard, as were the practical aspects involving cocurricular and civic partnerships with local councils and NGOs – hence the frequent travel.
‘‘Academically, it’s a very challenging university . . . it’s so broad, and you sort of get a feel for the different world problems and how individuals are making an impact.’’
Dick said her time at Waimea College had provided a useful grounding for her to pursue her future ambitions.
‘‘I don’t think there was any doubt in the teachers’ minds that if we wanted to do something, we could just go out and make it happen – we had those resources to help us get where we wanted to go.’’
Waimea principal Scott Haines said staff remembered Dick as being ‘‘a very driven student who was naturally very able but who further enhanced this with a self-motivated attitude and strong work ethic’’.
Staff also recalled her pride in her Ma¯ori heritage and being passionate about international languages. In her final year, she was selected as a languages captain.
‘‘Waimea College is incredibly proud of Brittany, and we wish her all the very best for her studies at Minerva.’’
‘‘We can technically study from anywhere.’’ Brittany Dick,
Minerva Schools at KGI student