Auckland pair win spot at Cambridge
Two Auckland students are heading to Cambridge University having won admission in recognition of their academic performance.
Both were students at ACG Parnell College.
Benji Witters is heading to the university to study Classics, and it’s possible no one is more surprised than him.
‘‘There was no point where that was something I’d ever expect. Really, I got in just from excellent performance in my final two years of high school.’’
A student with his degree of achievement has a multitude of options, and Benji admits Classics is ‘‘not an obvious pathway. If you study neuroscience, I’m sure you’re going to be a neuroscientist, but Classics is so multifaceted, between drama and literature, poetry, history, philosophy. I think I have the right to say that I’m going to wait a bit [to decide on a career path].
‘‘What I’ve entertained the idea of would be a job where, say, someone has found a piece of pottery in Syria and they have no idea if it’s real or fake, they might send it to me and I can examine it. Something like that relating to archaeology might be interesting.’’
Perhaps the biggest adjustment Benji, a water lover, will have to make in moving to the United Kingdom is the landlocked nature of the city of Cambridge, whose nearest coastline meets the chilly North Sea.
‘‘I like to swim. I really do. I have spent practically half my life in Gisborne with its wonderful beaches. And even this summer, despite the weather, I went swimming just about every day.’’
Rangimarie (Mari) Puttick comes from a family of six that loves to travel and make the most of New Zealand, tramping, hiking, and cycling together.
Her parents are doctors and she says they ‘‘have devoted their whole lives to public service. They have spent their careers working in England and New Zealand for the public health system and our dad often goes to Africa to help on mercy ships.
‘‘Our mum grew up in Nepal and spent years going back and helping at medical camps. Having that constant example of parents who want to change other people’s lives has been really inspiring and makes me think about how I can do some sort of good in the world.’’
Last year, Mari was dux and deputy head prefect. Her academic success saw her awarded the Sir Douglas Myers Scholarship to the University of Cambridge, where she will study Human, Social, and Political Science in October.
Mari says: ‘‘At university I am hoping to find what I’m really passionate about.
‘‘My hope for the future is to do something that helps other people, which fosters international understanding and cultural empathy – something that benefits New Zealand, because I’m very grateful to New Zealand for all the opportunities it has given me.’’