Danielle Baillie Alumni 2006

My name is Danielle Baillie and I was at Kristin from Year 7 in 2000, and finished in 2006.

I'm yet another Kristin Alumni in Melbourne, at RMIT University I'm studying Product Development and Merchandising, essentially it's the business of fashion. I've wanted to do this course since the end of Year 10 when I found out about it. Many students struggle to decide but I'm just lucky I found what I wanted. I love it!

Flatting in the middle of the city, Melbourne is a wonderful place, and the perfect place to be studying fashion. At the moment we are actually creating a range of urban men’s wear which Target are going to put into production for Winter 09 and Summer 09/10. We have to design the clothes, the fabrics, the marketing campaign, the display units for the store, the swing tickets, do the costing, the catalogues, plan the launch party, …everything! I am not sure what I will do at the end of it, maybe work with a big label as a buyer or product developer.

I'm also currently working with a not for profit organisation called Fitted for Work, it helps disadvantaged women find employment, by giving them a new wardrobe, career tips and a support network. Once a week I help in the boutique, so much fun. It is true, a new outfit can actually start to change someone’s life. I'm also planning some big fundraising and image raising events with them, which will be great, we hope to get more young people involved in the future.

I have a nine year old friend who is part of the Big Brother, Big Sister program, she has not had an easy life so far, so in the weekends we go to the park, the movies, go for a walk, or to the shops, just have fun. Hanging out with a nine year old is nice, she gives a completely different perspective on things, and she's been a great reason to go to shows and exhibitions that I wouldn’t normally attend.

At Kristin I enjoyed school, and missed it a bit once I had left. I did IB and tried to do a whole lot of different things, which I think helped the make the transition to university easier. I think that the opportunities and experiences that I gained from Kristin is what has made the difference now. The chance to be a Prefect, be involved with the fashion show and participate in an exchange program have allowed me to be better prepared for life outside of school.

Highlights as an Alumni so far? Last year I went to China on a study tour where we got to visit silk farms, factories and manufactures, distribution centres, markets and the shops. A chance to see the other side of the fashion industry. We also got to do all the touristy things, the Great Wall, Tienanmen Square, Terracotta Warriors, etc. To have a chance to see how China works in relation to the fashion industry was so special, I really learnt a lot.

To future Alumni: make sure that you are doing something that you really like doing. There is so much to choose from, I am sure it makes a difference to everything in your life if you really like what your studying. Make sure you jump at all opportunities offered to you, there is so much that you could be doing!

And go away for university! It’s a big move, and not the easiest at first, but there are so many exciting things to do, and living in a different country or city is so exciting, all the people you meet and places you see are so different.

Oh, and come to Melbourne, it is a wonderful place!

Adrian Day Alumni 2006

Another high-flying Alumni who left Kristin in 2006 is Adrian Day. Adrian started at Kristin in the year 2000 and as you’ll read below, it appears the opportunities and environment at Kristin have also helped Adrian deal with his experiences at university and keep a steady head as he changes direction to become a commercial pilot.

“I would consider myself as having been a good school student overall. Like most young boys, there were definitely lazy times and a few ups and downs, but I was mostly well focused and reasonably hard-working. I left school at the end of Year 13 not really knowing what it was I wanted to do. I started doing Commerce and Science at the University of Auckland, hoping to get into Pharmacology. After experiencing university life for just over a semester I decided that it just wasn’t for me. Realising that an officeor lab-based job wouldn’t be my thing, I began thinking about something more practical, something hands-on.

This is when aviation came into the picture. All through school I had various ideas and dreams of what I would do with myself when I left and as far back as I can remember I had always wanted to fly planes. At the time it didn’t seem like a career though, just a hobby. Now I am training to be a commercial pilot at Ardmore Flying School. I’m also working part-time to cover the costs of study and, when I can, keeping a good balance of socialising in there too.

Looking back at my time at Kristin, Year 13 was definitely the highlight of all my schooling. Everyone does what they can to make Year 13 the best year possible, knowing that it’s their last year there. My biggest inspiration would have to be from my Year 13 Dean/ Outdoor Ed. teacher Mr Lane. All of his positive input into that last year at school made it just that much better.

The biggest highlight of my life so far since leaving Kristin is finding a career from a hobby that I enjoy so much and in April this year getting my Private Pilots Licence. Also, I have just finished the theory side of my Commercial Pilots Licence with very good results.”

Career-wise, my biggest aspiration is to have my Commercial Pilots Licence by the end of this year. After that, I don’t yet have one set plan of what I will do. For me, it’s all about keeping my options open and welcoming any opportunity that presents itself. Kristin taught me a lot about that.

Adrian’s experiences so far have resulted in some specific advice which he has for Year 13 students planning for the future...

“Never feel pressured to leave school already knowing what it is you want to pursue. If you do know, that’s great, but it’s no big deal if you don’t. I spent far too much time worrying what to do when I didn’t enjoy university, instead of getting out there and looking at all the possibilities. Talk to people; everyone you talk to will add something helpful to the mix and before you know it, everything falls into place.”

Laura Franck Alumni 2006

Laura Franck was a student from Germany who attended Kristin for one year from July 2005 to July 2006. During her time here she enjoyed learning about the differences between Germany and New Zealand. She made a huge effort to get thoroughly involved in the school and particularly enjoyed our students’ involvement in the Arts.

Her interest in the Arts continued when she returned home and here she can be seen playing the part of the executioner in a comedy by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, performed by her school in Germany.

Laura recently made contact with the International team who helped set up her exchange experience in New Zealand. This is what she had to say about what she is doing now:

“Just recently I graduated from my school in Germany. Immediately I applied for an international study programme in Gronigen, in the Netherlands, and I have already been invited to start this September. The programme is called International Communication. It deals with multiculturalism, media and management. I am pretty curious about what will come up over the next four years of studying. In the third year I have to go abroad for two semesters. I’m sure that I will spend one semester in New Zealand again.“

Victoria Gifford Alumni 2006

The very proud mother of Alumni student, Victoria Gifford, has informed us that Victoria has been accepted into Auckland Medical School this year. Congratulations Victoria. Victoria attended Kristin from Kindergarten, through to Year 13 in 2006, a good student who aspired to be either a scientist or a doctor when she finished school. As with so many Kristin students, some of her fondest memories of Kristin were at school camps, she also respected the school's wonderful teachers.

Victoria's recent acceptance into medical school is certainly a highlight of her achievements so far, and like her mum, Kristin are very proud to hear that she is on her way to fulfilling an admirable career. Her advice is to work and study hard but still make time for friends and family.

Matt Holloway Alumni 2006

Matt Holloway graduated from Kristin in 2006 and has just returned from a study trip to Italy. He has some words to say about his interesting trip.

“I am in my second year of Architecture at Auckland University. In August I travelled to Italy as part of an optional extension to my Design course. Our trip started with a week in Rome, after which we travelled through Umbria, Naples and Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, Calabria and finally to Sicily, seeing many amazing sights along the way.

Florence and Sienna would have to be two of the highlights but Sicily was definitely my favourite part of the trip. Sicily felt much more ‘Italian’ than Rome or Umbria where it was as common to hear an American accent as an Italian one, around the city streets. The Greek sites of Sicily were very beautiful, especially the theatre at Taormina and the valley of the temples at Agrigento which were more than a match for the stunning Roman, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque buildings we had seen further north. It was amazing
how famous names such as Bernini, Michelangelo and Borromini became commonplace among the streets of Rome where their work was prolific.

We spent time working on our design project with some of the students at Palermo University and now have some great friends. It was good to spend time with the locals and experience more of the culture and see more interesting places than you would if you were there by yourself.

Travelling with 40 other students meant there was never a dull moment and even though our schedule was frenetic (we saw at least 30 influential buildings in our five days in Rome alone), we still had time for several days’ swimming at Palermo’s beautiful Mondello Beach. I think the record for the most shoes bought by one person was 13 – although not by me. Spending five weeks in the Italian summer looking at incredible architecture by day
and enjoying the restaurants and Piazzi of southern Italy by night was an experience
of a lifetime and I would recommend Sicily as a destination to anyone. The only hard part was coming home.”

Aiden Varan Alumni 2006

A good friend of Ananth Gopal, Aiden Varan was a Kristin student from 2000 to 2006. He is also at the University of Melbourne studying for a BSci in Psychology and Behavioural Neuroscience.

Aiden is enjoying being a 2nd year student. “In my time here I have changed, but mostly I have grown. Self-understanding is very empowering, that’s something valuable I’ve learned. Love and friendship, these are vital. Kristin certainly planted these in me. This city is amazing. The art, music, colours; it's true culture compressed. Constant stimulation if you want it. And enough quiet to keep kiwi kids happy.”