Ari Pepper is this year’s Taupō-nui-a-Tia College Dux.

This year’s dux at Taupō-nui-a-Tia College has overcome a major obstacle to gain the top award.

By Chris Marshall

Ari Pepper wasn’t expecting to be this year’s dux, even if everyone else thought he was a shoo-in for the top student award.

Ari missed attending high school for about half of the five years due to mental health issues.

“I started off in Year 9 and I had to leave halfway through. I didn't do any year 10.”

He began Year 11 with one subject but by the end of that year was able to cope with three – picking up science for the first time.

“I had a really good experience with the Northern Health School. I was there for two years and they were lovely.

“I feel like they need to get more recognition for the work that they do. They were so supportive.”

The health school helped him get back into a routine and cope with the workload.

“I was a bit of a success story for them. So, it was good to be that person.”

Proxime accessit Sascha Percival-Moore said fellow senior students knew Ari would be dux even if he didn’t.

But Ari himself said it was a surprise.

“I wasn't expecting it. I got told that from a lot of teachers, that they were expecting it, but I wasn’t.”

Sascha was optimistic about taking the second top award, but not without doubt.

“I was really hoping that I was proxime, but I didn't necessarily know 100%.”

In his senior high school year, Ari enjoyed immersing himself in science, studying biology, physics and chemistry along with English and calculus in Year 13.

He is off to Auckland University to pursue a Bachelor of Science with a double major in physics and chemistry.

And then, maybe, research.

He was happy to profess a love for pursuing knowledge for its own sake.

“I love that academic side. I love learning. And I would love to be able to contribute to that. Research science has always interested me… I find it the most fun rather than application.”

Sascha studied English, statistics, economics, enterprise, and photography this year.

But her slight leaning towards the arts will be straightened next year with a Bachelor of Commerce at Victoria University, majoring in economics.

She was not sure yet where economics study might take her, but she laughed off as unlikely eventually appearing on television and commenting on the New Zealand economy.

“An economist is a high paying job. It's a successful job. But I just want to get my master’s and… see what opportunities present themselves.”

The two are both sorted for next year – having completed enrolment and been offered places in the halls of residence.

“It's a lot easier than going straight into flatting,” said Ari. “You don’t have to adapt to too many things at once.”

He was particularly looking forward to becoming more familiar with the university’s science department, despite already spending all of the available four hours there during an open day.

“I did a lab tour, did all the little games.”

While some of his education had involved small rural schools, he wasn’t fazed by the prospect of attending a much larger institution.

“I'm drawn to having more opportunities available to me. Although I did enjoy their little communities, I guess. It's pros and cons. I’d like to go somewhere where they're very well known for chemistry and physics.”

Taupō-nui-a-Tia College Proxime accessit Sascha Percival-Moore .

Sascha is looking forward to moving to Wellington, but will keep an ear out for any strong wind warnings.

Outside of school Sascha enjoys competitive badminton, playing the guitar and learning Japanese extramurally – which she would love to practice one day with a visit to Japan.

Ari says most of his free time this year has been studying “because I find that so interesting. “But… I do go out on the farm because I live on a dairy farm. I have 100 pet cows.”

He has even trained one so it can be ridden like a horse – though the budding scientist couldn’t avoid being a little more accurate.

“You can get on its back, but I mean, she kind of does what she wants.”

His real interest outside study is more study – break time, in class, on the bus, weekends and holidays, even during whanau class; five or six extra hours a day beside lessons.

Sascha says: “I don't know how he does it… he’s educatively efficient.”

Ari admits all the study probably means he is “a high needs student”.

Sascha says “high school is what you make of it, you have to just maximise the opportunities that are put in front of you.”