Nicky Broekhuysen Alumni 1999
 I attended Kristin for my Secondary School years between 1995 and 1999. During school I had many dreams of what I would one day do after leaving. One idea was to become an Anthropologist and travel the world exploring foreign races and digging up our past. However, the dream which inspired me the most and filled me with the most fear and excitement was that of becoming an Artist. At times I thought it was a silly dream as being an Artist is not an easy path to follow but, with enough determination, passion and daring, I have found that anything is possible.
Well, 10 years after leaving Kristin, life has taken me to places and experiences that I never thought possible. After graduating from Elam School of Fine Arts I moved to Shanghai, China, on a whim of the unknown and a sense for adventure. In Shanghai I met a selection of wonderfully creative and fun people and together we set up an Art studio where we could work and also an Art school where I taught classes and found a love for teaching. Shanghai opened up the world to me and showed me that anything is possible as long as you just ‘jump in’ and then ride that wave which is your passion.
Last year a new challenge was needed and I moved to Berlin, Germany. Berlin is the centre for Art in Europe and such a creative and interesting place to be. Here I have a new studio where I am working on my Art in the hope of realising my dream of conquering the Art world and producing artwork which is challenging and asks us to look at the world with new and beautiful ways of seeing.
I was quite quiet in my early years of Kristin, rather shy I think. However the shyness was good as it forced me to realise that if I was to overcome it I had to throw myself into uncomfortable situations where shyness was not an option. I spent many happy lunchtimes in the photography lab and painting room with fellow paint-splattered students. These are my favourite moments from Kristin.
I enjoyed my time at school. The wonderful artistic opportunities that Kristin provided really shaped and fostered my love for creativity. We had a great Art History and Art teacher, Mrs Pollsford, and painting teacher, Alistair; both were creating their own Art and having exhibitions. This really inspired me and began the formation in my mind of what an Artist really is.
I must also mention Mr Coulson who was my Basketball coach. He created a wonderfully fun, close-knit group of girls from all different friendship groups around the school, brought us together and instilled a love of competitiveness and fair play which has served me well in life. Those 7am morning practices, although at the time were cursed, now stand in my mind as some of the happiest moments of my time at Kristin.
For me, highlights and successes of my life after Kristin are not a few individual moments, rather they are how I have lived my life and what feelings encompass me when I think back on it. Life is an adventure and if you see it that way you attract adventurous experiences. Exploring the world, meeting wonderful people from every cultural background possible. Setting a goal, which seems impossible and then reaching it. Doing something that scares you to death and then seeing that there was nothing to be afraid of. Living your life with a smile and seeing what doors will unexpectedly open for you. It is these lessons that I have learned along the way which have created a life, which is not always easy, that’s is for sure, but it is filled with highlights!
If I said my aspiration is to exhibit my work in the Venice Biennale, would that be too grand? No, it wouldn’t because no goal is too big! I just aspire to doing everything that I can with the gifts that I have, to never regret anything and, most importantly, to have fun with life and fill it with joy.
Follow your dream and if that path has never been trodden before, then make your own and trust that if you fill each step with enough passion and determination you will reach it. If you’re interested in having a look at some of my artwork you can do so on my website.
Katy Crowley nee Donnelly Alumni 1999
 Katy Crowley nee Donnelly was our Head Girl in 1999 after being at Kristin since Year 7. She became Katy Crowley in 2008 when she married Dave. They live together in Vienna, Austria, where they are enjoying all that Europe has to offer. Katy looks back on her days at Kristin and some of the many highlights since.
“I work at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), which I joined in June 2005. I am enjoying my first overseas posting at the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna. We have a very small post in Vienna (four people in total), where we focus largely on nuclear non-proliferation issues. Much of our work relates to the major agencies that are based in Vienna, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO).
When I left school I had wanted to become a lawyer (human rights or environment) or a diplomat, so it’s satisfying to have achieved such an interesting role that encompasses those original goals.
It would be fair to say I was a nerd at school! I particularly loved History, English and Theatre Arts (but was very happy to be finished with Maths and Science!). My German language classes have served me well and I am continuing to improve now that I live in Austria. I did the International Baccalaureate programme which I enjoyed for both its academic challenge and the way it encouraged involvement in sporting and cultural events. I played Basketball, Netball and Volleyball for most of my Senior School years and enjoyed my time as Head Girl in 1999.
There were many highlights from my schooldays! Theatre Arts with Mrs Stretton was my favourite class for years and more than made up for Chemistry (sorry Mr O’Connor). Dance troupe with the creative and energetic Mrs Rood was a lot of fun too. English and then World Literature with Mrs McLisky, Mrs Kitchen and Mrs Davis were also highlights. And I will never forget Gail Hedges in the Principal’s office – she always had a twinkle in her eye.
School camps were magnificent – Kai Iwi Lakes and black-water rafting at Waitomo were favourites of mine. The days my wonderful mum worked in the library and I could scavenge money for the tuck shop were always good too. And last but certainly not least, making friends to last a lifetime – catching up with old Kristin friends across Europe has been a lot of fun!
Outside of school, meeting and marrying my husband has been the personal highlight so far – he has supported my career and shared my happiness in having an extended honeymoon in Europe!
Joining MFAT and securing a first posting to Vienna have been my greatest professional successes to date. Working with diplomats from New Zealand and around the world continues to be a positive experience for me and I look forward to future adventures with the Ministry. A secondment from MFAT to the Ministry of Defence was also a highlight, which saw me visiting camps and bases around New Zealand and travelling in the Navy’s Seasprite helicopters and ANZAC frigates, the Air Force’s Boeing and Hercules aircraft and one of the Army’s Light Armoured Vehicles. I was fortunate to work with highly skilled and motivated personnel from both the New Zealand Defence Force and the Ministry of Defence during my secondment.
Receiving my BA (Hons) in Politics and my BA/LLB (Hons) with a double major in History and Politics from the University of Auckland was a great academic achievement for me. I finished off my law degree with a semester at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and can highly recommend a university exchange!
Studying Russian politics at the diplomatic academy in Moscow through a paper at Auckland University was also an amazing experience.”
Katy and Dave have 18 months left in Vienna – Katy is keen to see where her career with MFAT takes her next, and what new opportunities might appear along the way.
With all these highlights already under her belt, who knows what will happen next? Her advice is to “Say yes to every positive opportunity that comes your way because you never know what it might lead to.”
April Roberts nee Witteveen Alumni 1999
 We have caught up with Alumni student April Roberts nee Witteveen who spent 1998 – 1999 at Kristin. April is living in Australia and credits her short time at Kristin for her desire to serve others and make the most out of life.
“I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do after school. My main drive was to find a job which would enable me to serve others, especially those in developing countries. I considered studying Medicine; however, I decided against ‘locking in’ my career when I wasn’t entirely sure that was my passion. Instead, I studied Medical Science at the University of Sydney where I was more interested in aspects of population health and prevention of health and medical problems. I subsequently completed a Masters of International Public Health. My first ‘proper’ job was as a graduate trainee at the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. After 15 months of work, I won a scholarship to go back to uni to do a Masters of Applied Epidemiology at the Australian National University. Certainly, at the end of Year 12, I had no idea what epidemiology was, or that roles like the ones I’ve been in, even existed!
“Ten years on, life is much the same as it was in school, but very different as well. I am ever more convinced that a life with Jesus is the great life; I still think family and friends are more important than work/study/career, but I still aim to get as much out of life as I can. I am blessed to be married to Daniel and pleased to have finished six years of university study!
“At the moment, I am the epidemiologist responsible for understanding and monitoring the patterns of tuberculosis infections in residents of New South Wales. I have also worked on infectious disease epidemiology at the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and as a foodborne disease epidemiologist in northern NSW.
“I completed the International Baccalaureate at Kristin. Looking back, I remember that my teachers were excellent and I’m sure they increased my ability to get a good mark. I enjoyed school – the social aspect cannot be beaten! The academic standard at Kristin really sets you up for an easier transition to uni, and the standards around community service and extracurricular activities set you up to know how to get the most out of life – through being enthusiastic and serving others. (A bit of hard work doesn’t hurt either!)
“This sounds cheesy but the things I remember about school are an encouraging card from my Extended Essay supervisor, the energy Mr Coulson had (I briefly played Basketball until I was injured and Mr Coulson was our coach), the passion Mr Richardson had for Music excellence, the patience of my French teacher and the persistence of my Chemistry teacher (I wasn’t very good at Chemistry). I remember wading through massive spring-time puddles, the glorious green grass on the oval, the warm Common Room filled with yummy-smelling lunches and the spot where I spent lunchtimes and recesses with my
lovely friends.
“Many good things have happened since I finished school. I was able to volunteer for three months in Tanzania doing public health work. My husband and I have just returned from two months volunteering in rural Bangladesh, where I worked on an epidemiology project. Finding and marrying an awesome man has been a highlight, as was buying our first house. Being able to present at national and international conferences and having some work published are some of my career highlights too.
“Ahead of me are all sorts of plans. Daniel and I would like to do more work in developing countries. I have realised that it is best to gently push on doors until one opens wide, so we are waiting for the right opportunity and time. In the meantime, we are preparing for the future through consolidating careers, enjoying being married and exploring the world!
“If I can offer any words of wisdom to Kristin’s current students they would be: find what you’re interested in and pursue that. If you are able to do something that brings you joy in your day-to-day life, you’ll be happier, and you’re much more likely to achieve your goals; realise you’re young, fit in as much as possible and enjoy exploring the amazing country you live in – New Zealand is so unique and beautiful!”
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