Extra-Curricular Activities

An avid badminton player, I represented my high school's 'B' grade team and the university's 'C' grade team in competitions around New Zealand. I organised, promoted and participated in Trinity College's badminton club which ran for the duration I was there.  I  continue to play recreationally (while the knees can still manage it!).

Volunteering is a great way to give back to a community. I was fortunate enough to visit an orphange in Batam, Indonesia, organise and take part in games and activities for the children who lost their parents in the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. The children showed resilience and showed me to always be grateful for what you have. 

Being in a new country can be a daunting experience, especially for teenagers leaving home for the first time, to live and study in another country, with another culture and language. I make it a point of introducing new (and sometimes not-so-new) students to the sights and sounds of the city, using public transport, putting them in touch with local real estate agents, and providing ongoing support for their studies. This allows students to give their full attention to their studies.

I conduct workshops towards the end of a course for students who are at risk of failing, as well as students who feel they need some extra help. Workshops I have conducted include essay writing, presentations and seminars, research reports, grammar and vocabulary. The workshops can be anywhere between 1-2 hours. It is always satisfying when students leave the workshops confident in knowing what they will write or present and how they will present it.