Loji Moharram
GROWING up Loji Moharram questioned everything.
She often brought freshly developed opinions to her father, who would sit down with her and work through her argument, then see if she still believed in it.
She never felt like her voice was dismissed, and now at 16 years old she realises how fortunate she was.
Loji likes to ensure others can have their voice heard too and pursues leadership roles to enable it.
She coleads the school Amnesty group, which has the aim of creating a safer space for people at school.
Some of the projects they have done include chalk for support, where pupils gathered to write supportive messages on the school courts, and Freedom Week, in which each day was dedicated to different human rights issue.
One of the days during Freedom Week is dedicated to pupils being free to come to school in their own cultural dress, which was a really nice environment she felt proud to have helped create.
Part of her motivation comes from wanting to create good representation for Muslims and Egyptians by doing great work and breaking down stereotypes.
‘‘Family, religion and culture are all really important to me.’’
She attributes a lot of her success to her parents.
Having her opinions respectfully challenged growing up also led her into debating, as she wanted to learn how to correctly deliver an argument.
At first she did not think too much of the pursuit, but after seeing the seniors debate she was inspired.
She loves public speaking and debating is another way she can make her voice heard.
She is a huge fan of science and the pursuit of knowledge.
‘‘There’s always more you can know.’’ She was one of 10 pupils nationally to receive a scholarship offered by the Royal Society to attend the Professor Harry Messel International Science School, where she was exposed to a broad range of science areas.
She also tutors pupils in biology, English, chemistry and statistics.
Her passion for both science and community is why she is pursuing a career in medicine, a field which focuses on helping people.
Achievements: Academic prefect (2022); Sydney Science School Scholarship (2022); German Australian Language Competition high distinction (2020, 2021); chemistry, biology Olympiad training groups (2022); Otago Science Quiz winning team (2022); Enviroschools leader (2022); Amnesty cultural coordinator (2022); school orchestra (2022); debating Dunedin Development Squad (2022); school wellbeing team (2020, 2021); Dean’s leadership award (2022); peer tutor (2022); year 12 mentor (2022); Diversity Strategy initiative (2022); Level 1, 2 excellence endorsement (2021). Hopes for the future: To study medicine at the University of Otago. Role model: Her parents, for embodying everything that is important to her.