Trent is a dedicated student who admits he spends all of his spare time studying. He tutors other students at Tikipunga High School and has aspirations to become Head Boy next year. He is planning to utilise his First Foundation scholarship to study medicine at either Otago or Auckland University and has a dream to become a Cardiothoracic Surgeon – driven by his strong desire to help others.
After diligently researching different paths he could take in the surgical field, Trent has his heart set on this particular specialist medical career as he thinks he would find it extremely interesting and there is a shortage of Cardiothoracic Surgeons in New Zealand.
Trent has just been awarded a First Foundation scholarship after being supported through the application process by the I Have a Dream team.
When news came through of Trent’s scholarship, he and his family were initially stunned and weren’t sure if it was real. Trent shared that once the news sunk in, he screamed with excitement and his family’s initial shock and surprise turned to immense pride in his accomplishment.
Trent is only a fairly new student at Tikipunga High School moving here at the start of Year 11 in 2023. He has been enrolled with I Have a Dream since starting at the school and has been part of Navigator Lucia Kotze’s cohort of Dreamers (student program participants.
Together with Lucia, I Have a Dream Fundraising and Partnership Manager, Jodie Hannam, assisted Trent through the First Foundation application process, ensuring his submission reflected his unique strengths, drive and determination to give him the best chance of success.
The I Have a Dream Headquarters, located on the grounds of Tikipunga High School is a place Trent like to get away to where he can chat with Lucia and other Navigators about anything that is stressing him out, vent any frustrations or concerns he is having which he said he finds really helpful and means he doesn’t have to stress his parents.
“I Have a Dream has been a big help. It’s really nice to have someone outside of home to talk to, especially when they’re at school with you if you need them. It’s different to talking to a teacher, it feels more like talking to a friend.” Trent said.
“I Have a Dream also were the ones who first told me about the First Foundation scholarships and encouraged me to apply so I’m really grateful to them for that.”
Trent was pivotal in saving the school lunches at Tikipunga High School earlier this year, delivering a speech to Government visitors to the school which was featured in the New Zealand Herald, and ultimately influenced the decision not to remove the service.
“The Government was deciding whether or not to remove our school lunches and they came to our school. I asked the deputy principal if I could do a speech to convince them to keep the lunches. It was really nerve-wracking but an amazing experience for me.” Trent said.
Trent notes that this and his successful scholarship application are his two proudest achievements so far.
“The achievement that I’m the most proud of is my First Foundation scholarship, it’s one of the greatest things I’ve ever achieved. It’s given me a lot more hope in myself. It’s given me a feeling of what I want to do and where I want to go and I’m very happy about that.” Trent said.
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