Campus: Duke
Hometown: Wellington, New Zealand
High School: Newlands College

Young people have a unique ability to shape conversations – a reality which is evidenced every time groups of youth insert themselves into discussions – but it is unfortunate that our voices are perennially underrepresented in consequential discussions. This reality is what has driven me to be the Licensee and Producer of Wellington’s TEDxYouth event, Chairperson of the Wellington City Youth Council, and an avid debater. Through these experiences, I have come to realize that I would love to work in an environment where I am able to utilize my analytical skills to craft innovative and empowering policies. In my spare time, I enjoy catching up on quality movies, exploring YouTube, and delving into basketball analytics. There are three key leadership elements which I try to emulate from greats of the basketball world: Zion Williamson’s ever-present energy, Phil Jackson’s calm charisma, and Michael Jordan’s relentless pursuit of greatness.

What drew you to the Robertson Program?

Engulfed in something greater than themselves – that is the impression I receive of Robertson Scholars as I scroll through their diverse and inspiring profiles. Being surrounded by such an uplifting community which heartens one to make a mark in their respective realities is one which I simply could not resist. Furthermore, I think the mentors and alumni networks from the Robertson Program are instrumental in assisting one in crafting and navigating their future pathways. This is incredibly important in an age where we are engulfed in an ocean of information, making it increasingly difficult to discern these pathways. I am extremely excited to begin the Robertson journey!

How has your experience with the Robertson shaped your goals and career path?

One of my favorite quotes is Jim Rohn’s “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” This speaks directly to the largest benefit I have derived from the Robertson program thus far: the opportunity to interact with an incredibly intellectual, driven, and ambitious group of scholars. These interactions have stretched my perception of what can be achieved at Duke and challenged me to push myself harder. They have also opened my eyes to many eclectic yet impactful and interesting career paths I could be pursuing. I have no doubt that as my Robertson journey continues these relationships will continue to shape and reshape my goals and career aspirations.

Favorite Robertson moment?

The NOLS experience at the start of the Freshman Fall semester was a blast. There was one night where many of the scholars went down to a river at the bottom of the valley where we were staying. While we were there, we challenged each other to see who could keep their body submerged in the cold 50 degrees river water for the longest time, had a fascinating conversation about our favorite movies, and got to know each other’s lives prior to college. Even though we had only known each other for a couple of days, there was a deep sense of camaraderie as we bonded in and around that river, a sense of camaraderie that remains to this day.