An-Jhuo Lee
An-Jhuo Lee is a big-picture type of guy.
The 17-year-old is a jack of all trades, interested in not only learning how to play music, but also the physics behind it.
"Everything about everything is interesting to me and that’s essentially how I got to where I am."
An-Jhuo has a mix of arts and science subjects, hobbies and activities he is interested in.
He has grown up with an "intense love" for logic and everything maths-related, but his year 10 English teacher Peter Watson inspired him to understand people better and become a writer.
"Mr Watson just had these fantastic speeches analysing English books
in a way that I hadn’t really thought of."
Since then, he has picked up reading and writing poetry and found a love for the arts.
His interests are so varied, he is struggling to pick one and turn it into a career.
But when he finds something he is interested in, he keeps at it.
He is worried he might never find a fulfilling career because of his varying interests.
"It’s horrifying to think about the fact that I might one day have to pick one specific thing to focus on."
Next year, he is keen to study a bachelor of arts and science, majoring in maths and English, to keep his career prospects broad.
He can see himself becoming a researcher in technical maths in the future.
But he does not want to set any expectations for himself.
He wants to see his journey unfold.
Achievements
School board student representative (2022-25), tech prefect (2025), house leader (2025), Sheilah Winn competition (2025), excellence endorsed NCEA level 1 and 2, 100% marks in University of Canterbury Math199, National Informatics competition, NZMO competition bronze medal (2024), Big Sing Otago most promising student conductor (2024), 1st in computer science (2024), 1st in English (2024), 1st in German (2024), 1st in mathematics (2024), 1st in physics (2024), distinction in chemistry (2024), distinction in mathematics with calculus (2024), prizegiving speech prizes (2024), year 12 literature prize (2024), year 12 mathematics prize (2024), year 12 science prize (2024), year 12 prize for senior German (2024), year 12 best all-round performance (2024), services to library prize (2024), service Blue award (2024), AMC distinction — national mathematics competition (2023), junior mathematics competition top 30 in New Zealand (2023), 1st in digital technology (2023), 1st in German (2023), 1st in mathematics (2023), excellence in year 11 prize (2023), year 11 speech prize (2023), year 11 mathematics prize (2023).
Role model
Alan Turing and Sir Terry Pratchett.
Hopes for the future
To complete a PhD.
Ella Rowe
Nothing gets Ella Rowe in the zone quite like Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice.
The 17-year-old weightlifter listens to the generational classic ritually before every competition.
She said it had the ability to calm her down but pump her up at the same time — which, according to her, is the perfect state of mind to be in to lift heavy weights.
She only recently began Olympic weightlifting and can already snatch 70kg and clean and jerk 88kg.
She says it has been fairly easy for her to pick up the sport because she built a pretty solid base doing gymnastics for 11 years.
Despite being an Otago and New Zealand representative for gymnastics, Ella decided to switch codes to crossfit to try something new.
She says she found a community in CrossFit and a passion for lifting weights.
The mental fortitude Ella has built through CrossFit helps her get through other parts of her life, like going to school.
"It is all about making yourself keep going, even if you don’t want to."
She trains about three times a week for about 30 minutes each time.
Her dream is to become a professional athlete and represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games.
Ella went to the NZ Secondary Schools Competition where she made the A grade.
This makes her eligible for New Zealand team selection, which could qualify her for the Oceania competition in Samoa next year. Next year, Ella is planning on studying sports and exercise science at the University of Otago to work towards a career in sports.
Achievements
Sports prefect (2025); house leader (2025); Bayfield girls football team captain (2025); New Zealand secondary schools weightlifting championships 1st place (2025); Torian Pro Oceania CrossFit competition, 6th overall (2025); South Island weightlifting competition youth 64kg (2023, 2024); Otago Southern United U18 football team (2024); secondary schools weightlifting champs 1st in 64kg category (2024); Excellence endorsed NCEA level 2 (2024); Otago Southern United U16 futsal team (2023); outstanding achievement award in gymnastics, weightlifting (2023); New Zealand gymnastics representative (2023); Otago gymnastics representative (2021, 2022); Brockbank Cup for cross-country (2022); outstanding achievement award in gymnastics (2022); Bayfield’s Jaycees art cup (2022).
Role model
CrossFit athletes Jamie Simmonds and Tia-Clair Toomey.
Hopes for the future
To represent New Zealand in a sport.
