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Lara Rapson
Lara Rapson is one of a number of students the New Zealand Qualifications Authority is profiling to show how NCEA is working for secondary school students around the country.
Lara is a Year 13 student at Epsom Girls Grammar in Auckland, studying for her level 3 NCEA. An award-winning student, Lara doesn't yet know what direction she wants to take once she leaves school, so she is keeping her NCEA programme broad to give herself as many options as possible.
I have thought long and hard about my future and what I plan to study at university but so far I have not found an 'ideal' career.
Therefore my subject choices for this year are reasonably broad, enabling me to keep my options open. Medicine, marketing and interior design are all paths that have captured my interest.
Whichever career I choose to pursue I only hope I succeed in it to the best of my abilities. Next year I have been accepted to go on a gap year to Brazil. This will give me more time to think before I jump into a degree I might regret doing. I'll also be able to learn Spanish and take Latin American dancing lessons from the best.
What I'm studying
This year at level 3 NCEA, I am taking maths with calculus, chemistry, physics, modern art history and art painting, with a total of 114 credits available.
At NCEA level 1 I sat exams in English, maths, chemistry, physics, practical art, graphics, Japanese and physical health. In year 12, I studied graphics, art painting, English, chemistry, physics, physical health at NCEA level 2 and took Bursary maths. In year 11, I received the Gae Griffiths Prize for all-round excellence.
I am planning to sit Scholarship exams in maths with calculus, chemistry and possibly physics.
What I love to study and what I don't
My favourite subject at school is art history. My teacher is really enthusiastic about the subject and I also find the material fascinating.
Art painting would probably be my least favourite subject this year, whereas last year it was one of my favourites. In Year 13 we have a lot more responsibilities in the school and I don't seem to have time to do the work up to excellence standard. It is a labour-intensive course, which has always required more effort from me than other subjects.
Preparing for internal and external assessment
I am prone to stress. When an internal assessment is coming up I always become more uptight. How I tackle it depends upon the subject. For art history, which I picked up this year, I made sure that I planned my time and did at least four drafts for an essay that was due. I always make sure I check my work over to avoid making silly mistakes.
For exams I will normally start studying weeks in advance, at approximately the beginning of term 4. I find internals easier to cope with than exams. In exams there are too many subjects jostling for attention.
When I'm not studying
I enjoy jazz ballet and contemporary dance as well as squash outside of school. Within school I am the squash captain, Student Welfare Committee leader and part of the Challenge committee where another student and I run the reciprocal reading programme. As well as these leadership responsibilities, I am a member of the Green group, participated in Peer Tutoring last year and have recently completed my silver Duke of Edinburgh award.
Last updated: 31 August 2004