Charlotte Gregan
CREATIVITY is a passion — and a strength — for Maniototo Area School pupil Charlotte Gregan.
A budding writer, Charlotte is looking forward to publishing her first novel, having already received recognition for her writing.
In what is her proudest achievement to date, her short story Greed was commended and published in the Young NZ Writers anthology Not There, But Somewhere.
The publication symbolised the start of her success in the creative writing industry, she said.
‘‘I am incredibly passionate about creative writing, having been in the process of creating my own novels since the start of my high school years, one of which now is drawing close to being finished as a first draft.’’
Her artistic endeavours extend to drawing — Charlotte has published her own colouring books and she created the illustrations for her novels.
‘‘I would have to say what I enjoy most in life is creativity, as it revolves around the majority of what I do for fun.
‘‘I don’t go a day without inventing or working on something that I came up with in my mind.’’
Achievements School prefect (2022); house leader (2022); P.R.I.D.E leader (school values leader) (2021); Royal Society Bronze Crest for mudflat biodiversity studies at Portobello (2019); Royal Society Silver Crest for benthic community studies at Portobello (2021); publication in the Young New Zealand Writers Competition, Write Off Line anthology Scary Tales (2020); publication in the Young NZ Writers Competition, Write Off Line anthology Not There, But Somewhere (2021); Maniototo Pharmacy Trophy, junior science (2019); Naseby Athenaeum Award, junior English (2019); senior art prize (2019); Naseby Library Award, junior English (2018); Peter Connolly Memorial Trophy (2021); Clarke Cup, chemistry (2021); J A Becker Trophy (2020); Naseby Home and School Trophy (2019); Ranfurly Tractor Services Trophy (2018).
Hopes for the future Charlotte plans to study a bachelor of arts in English at the University of Otago or design communication at Otago Polytechnic. She hopes to publish her novels in the future. Role model ‘‘I take a lot of inspiration from authors — Tui T. Sutherland would be the main one and also Willard Price. His adventure books first drew me into the world of stories and writing. Their stories compel and inspire me to create my own.’’