Top Scholar Profile - Emma Woods

In 2021, Emma Woods earned a Scholarship in Biology. This topped off a year in which she also achieved NCEA Level 3 endorsed with Excellence and served Hamilton Girls' High School as Deputy Head of Heads House.

The Biology Scholarship exam presented three topics - the evolution of camels, the New Zealand sea lion and biological clocks. Emma was required to explore these topics, seeking relevant evidence from the material provided as well as drawing on a wide array of other readings and personal learnings. Her comprehensive response had to apply appropriate biological concepts along with identifying any other evidence and omissions that might be relevant.

The Scholarship exams are not as structured as NCEA exams. They require a student to read widely and draw everything in to support a point. “In NCEA you can work out what is required but in Scholarship there is no guidance and you just have to hope you hit a lot of points that will impress the examiners with your answers,” Emma explains. “HGHS offers extra classes for scholarship and we practise the past exams and the teachers review them and offer advice. We were well prepared.”

Emma’s Teacher, Mrs Urmila Arnand, was impressed with her curiosity. “Emma is a determined, hardworking and self-motivated student who is always curious, she asks relevant questions to make sure she understands concepts. She went an extra mile in Biology. Her thorough understanding of Level 2 and Level 3 Biology content and extra readings, as well as self confidence and the ability to write concisely, is what made Emma successful in Scholarship Biology.”

Emma grew up on a lifestyle block and developed a love for animals from an early age. Her desire to understand how the natural world works gave the sciences real meaning at school.

“I worked for a bit on a dairy farm and discovered I really like cows and I am really interested in the dairy industry as a whole," Emma says. “I want to understand the industry from start to finish and the start is the animals.”

Emma is attending The School of Veterinary Science at Massey University. She hopes to qualify for the Bachelor of Veterinary Science programme in July. Hamilton Girls' High School wishes her every success in that process.

This article was written by Arts Co-ordinator, Margot Rawlings. Thank you for your care and efforts with this great story.