Scholarship sends Abby into the future
A young Nelson student is off to Auckland after winning a scholarship to go to Auckland’s Festival for the Future.
Year 12 student Abby Robinson will be heading to Auckland to attend the festival from September 23 to 25.
Abby said she was ‘‘pretty proud’’ to be given a scholarship to attend the festival.
She said she had worked hard during her time at high school and primary school towards becoming the best leader she could be.
‘‘This was kind of the topping on the cake, seeing that someone else recognised the efforts that I made.
‘‘Going and representing Nelson was quite a cool feeling.’’
Festival for the Future caters for students to collaborate on ways to make a better future.
The event features a wide range of speakers, hands-on workshops, performance and entertainment.
Last year more than 550 young people attended the event from all over New Zealand.
Abby said more than 1000 are expected this year.
She said she was most looking forward to meeting new people.
‘‘You don’t really get that much of an opportunity for it in Nelson.
‘‘There’s a lot of people but here’s not a lot of people at the same time.’’
Abby said collaborating with like minded will be really interesting and a new experience.
‘‘I want to bring that new knowledge back with me and feed it back into the school and the surrounding community as much as possible.’’
Abby has been part the academic and social services committees at Nelson College for Girls and was running to be next year’s head girl.
She said she wanted to get into law and politics and study at Victoria University in Wellington.
‘‘I hope that going [to the festival] will potentially open more doors for that sort of thing, give me more options.
‘‘Working towards being in parliament one day or even at the UN or just fighting for those who don’t really have a voice.’’