Lara Rutstein

Award: Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award

Year started at Emanuel: 2007

Emanuel School isn’t just about classrooms, it’s about giving me a place to create memories, where I can excel academically and participate in all other aspects of school life.

Lara is an all-rounder, having participated in school musicals, sports events and carnivals. She describes her educational journey as "remarkable", enabling her to be involved in so many activities, make wonderful memories and combine her passions. Lara is a people’s person who is particularly proud of receiving the Year 11 prize in 2018 for Participation in the Life of the School.

Lara enjoyed her school trips to the Northern Territory and Israel, feeling that they gave her the opportunity to learn about her own and others' heritage. Emanuel has helped her recognise, develop and believe in her abilities which she feels will help her in the future.

Lara is a talented soccer player and was selected to represent Australia in the 2017 Maccabiah Games. She was also a member of the UNSW representative soccer team, maintaining her position for four consecutive years.

Her self-belief and positivity are contagious and her persistence, motivation and compassion are testament to this. Her friends describe her as engaging, funny and easy to talk to!

Lara has been offered a place in Psychology Honours at Macquarie University as part of the Leaders and Achievers' program but she first plans on attending the immersive Israeli 'Aardvark' program.