This programme targets outstanding all round science, maths and technology students in Year 12 who are returning to school in Year 13 and are planning to study the sciences or technology at tertiary level.

The programme took place on the 13th to the 27th of January  in Auckland.  For the two weeks that Meghan was there, she lived with over 170 other 16 and 17 year olds in one of the residence halls of Auckland University and attended modules and lectures.

The subjects she was introduced to ranged across the different areas of science including biomedical science, robotics, psychology, sport science and video game development. Her favourite out of all the modules had to be biomedical science, where she learnt more about the anatomy of the heart and even got the chance to dissect a sheep’s heart and lungs!

During the evenings, she also did tech options which included a visit to an organisation in Auckland that did work in the areas of science and technology.

Her schedule for the two weeks was quite busy and when she wasn’t attending modules, she was competing in the volleyball tournament, which her team, YELLOW, came second in.

Meghan was also given the opportunity to walk around the city and visit popular tourist attractions, such as the Sky Tower and Queen Street, where she shopped until she could no longer walk up the hill back to the residence hall!

Thanks to the Forum, Meghan got the chance to meet like-minded people, have a go at volleyball, navigate her way around Auckland with Google Maps and still manage to get lost, learn more about science and technology and also make friends that she won’t ever forget. 

"Those two weeks in Auckland were an unforgettable experience and have given me so many things to think about in terms of what I want to do when I leave college".

Meghan advises other students that if any of you ever have the chance to go to the Rotary Forum when you’re in Year 12, make sure to take it. I can promise you that you won’t regret it.