International Student Profiles
Please note: All profiles are placed in the order they were submitted from the most recent at the top to the oldest at the bottom.
Bo Ra Lee from Korea
When I first came to Melville High School I was so excited, just like other overseas students. However, problems of how to make friends made life difficult here and also, even though I made friends I couldn’t express myself to them so I found the early days really hard. A science class was the first class that I attended here. It was hard to understand what the teacher taught me, but one of the International Centre teachers helped me to study science. This year I had a chance to go to Auckland and also to the University of Waikato, to study more about Chemistry. It was an awesome experience doing advanced experiments. If she had not helped me, it would have been hard for me to stay in that class. I think that the teachers at Melville High School are the best. They are always helping us to reach our goals and things that we want. As the school is not big there was lots of conversation between teachers and students, also seniors with juniors. It just makes me feel part of this school. There is a special day called ‘International Day.’ That day we learn about other cultures and see the different countries’ performances, such as, Polynesian and Indian dance and Maori performance. As we know New Zealand is a multicultural country so it was definitely a good experience for me. Last year and this year Korean students formed a choir and gave a good performance. We also made huge amounts of traditional food so that we could share with other students and friends at school. The Leadership camp and the School Ball gave me wonderful memories. Camp helped me to make a few friends at school and it was a good chance to get to know each other very well. The Ball was so fascinating, If you ever have a chance to go to the Ball I say “GO”. It’s nearly the end of 2006. I am going to miss all the teachers and wonderful friends I have made at Melville High School but I will take wonderful memories with me.
Bo Ra Lee
Megumi Sugawara from Japan
Since I learned English at Junior High School, I always had a dream to visit other countries and talk with people by myself using English.
When I entered High School at 15, I took a lot of examinations to gain the right to go to an overseas school as an exchange student. I often cried a lot because I was afraid of failing these exams and my family always used to encourage me.
At last, I could get a ticket to come to this country! I was so glad and looking forward to staying here.
Since I landed in this wonderful country where I can see a lot of beautiful nature as an exchange student from Japan, I have experienced so many things which I couldn't imagine before.
At first, I could learn about many cultures. As you know, NZ is a multicultural society compared to Asia. It was a good opportunity to know about the world. I could communicate not only with Kiwis but also Asian, Indians, Africans, and European people. I learned how pleasant it was to communicate with friendly people from the kiwi culture. When I talked with my classmates or my host family's friends, they were so friendly all the time and I used to feel happy. And also occasionally I could communicate with students from Korea. I noticed the importance of respect to older people from their Confucian culture. I think the people who stay in New Zealand are so lucky because here is a good place to learn about the world.
Secondly, I learned how warmhearted people around me are compared to overseas' standards. I stayed at an ordinary Kiwi homestay in the southern Hamilton area. Now I really thank my host family who accepted my stay readily. They were so kind to me all the time and it was enjoyable to share about my Japanese culture, words, and foods. Also, I could make many wonderful friends at school. I enjoyed communicating with them, and I came to like school. In Japan, there were some problems. So to me, communication with people was a little frightening sometimes and I couldn't believe in people easily until I came to this country. It was wonderful to realise that there are a lot of great people in the world.
Finally, I want to say a lot of thanks to this lovely school Melville High, my host families, my coordinator, Rowari, and all of people who helped me. In 2007 I'll be back in Japan and I'll be a high school student of 3rd grade. I will tell my family and all of the Japanese people whom I know how wonderful my 2006 year was, I'll never forget these days which I spent in New Zealand and someday I'd like to visit here again.
With a lot of thanks.
Megumi Sugawara
Jing Wang from China
I finished my final high school examinations in China in 2001, then I came to beautiful New Zealand to continue my studies at Melville High School. During my one year at Melville High School my English level improved markedly. I made huge progress in both my writing and speaking improving enough in one year to allow me to pass IELTS and gain entry into Waikato University. However, all of this success was not only due to my own study, but also because of the patient teaching from the Melville High School teachers.
When I first started at Melville High School, I found mastering the English language the most difficult thing I had ever done. The speed of the teachers’ speech and my own lack of vocabulary were two areas that I found difficult. This placed huge pressure on me. However, the extra tuition Melville High School teachers gave me helped me enormously at this stage. They spent extra hours helping me, were always patient and answered any questions I asked. They also showed very caring hearts when helping me in my personal life and as an often lonely overseas student, these three things greatly impacted me. Since then I have never felt lonely again and felt fully confident to continue my studies at University. Melville High School is like a loving family and the teachers became like my overseas parents, all of which empowered me to cope and achieve success.
Now I have successfully graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Management, majoring in marketing and tourism. I did not feel so pressured during these four years of university study because I was now confident that I could work in English. It has become a tool for communicating and understanding in all areas of my life. All of this was given to me by Melville High School. I am very grateful to my mother school and my foreign parents who took care of both the large and small things in my life here. I love them, oh yes I definitely love them.
Jing Wang