The 18-year-old plays piano, bass, and has learned drums, but focuses on acoustic guitar and vocals.
"I love being on stage. Before a show I am usually more excited than nervous because I see it more as having fun more than performing. I pretty much enter in everything to do with speech, drama, and music."
While Paula often comes up with a song "in about two hours", she can spend weeks using a computer composition program to add "extra layers and interesting parts".
Paula has entered several Gold Guitar awards, the Rotary speech competition and was eisteddfod champion (2007-08), winner of Cleland Cup composition eisteddfod (2007), Cleland Cup for service to choir (2007).
Apart from excelling in music and drama, Paula enjoys charity projects, and her work as a Christian Service leader helping organise fund-raising projects for the Sir Edmund Trust this year earned her an Everyday Young New Zealander Award presented by the Minister for Youth Development at a ceremony in Wellington in May.
Paula was one of 12 recipients.
Achievements: University of Otago level one theology paper (2008); Rotary national science and technology forum (2008); school jazz band lead singer; speech challenge; school music prize (2007); diligence prize (2007); social netball team (2008); co-captain of the year 12 netball team (2007); co-director Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival (2008); Spirit of Adventure (2008); leader of school social justice committee; health and Sadd committee member; bronze Duke of Edinburgh award (2006); part-time life-guard Gore and Mataura Pool (2007-08); youth music group leader in local parish.
Role model: "I like Brooke Fraser. She is able to balance charity work and a successful music career. In general I admire people who show determination and trying new things."
Hopes for the future: "Next year I plan to study biomedical science, law and music at the University of Otago."