It wasn’t Jordan Wheater’s aim at the start of the year to become the Thames High School dux for 2024, but that’s exactly what he did.
The year-13 student was very surprised and “slightly apprehensive” about going on stage to receive his award at the school prizegiving evening recently, he told The Profile.
“I am not a fan of being the centre of attention,” he said.
Even though he preferred to stay out of the spotlight, Jordan said he was very proud and happy this was the result of his hard work.
“This year I was aiming for as many excellences as I could get.”
Jordan said he had 31 excellence credits so far, with a lot more to come from external exams.
“I had a lot of great teachers this year and supportive family and friends,” he said.
The fact all his subjects were ones he enjoyed also “helped keep me motivated”.
But the top achiever also snapped up a few more notable awards.
“Even if I had not won dux however, I still would have been very happy that I came first in all of the sciences.”
Jordan managed to achieve top spot victories in biology, chemistry and physics and was awarded the Boyce Cup for Top Science Student.
“I really like all these subjects because they involve solving problems and finding a definite answer,” he said.
However, if he had to pick just one favourite, it would be physics because it involved “the least amount of writing”, he said.
But it doesn’t end there.
Jordan also claimed distinction in mathematics with calculus and was awarded The University of Waikato Ko Te Tangata Schools Leavers Scholarship.
Next year Jordan will head to The University of Waikato to study computer science, and he said the scholarship would be a great help toward his accommodation costs.
“The logic and the problem solving [for computer science] appeal to me and I might end up in a field like cyber security.”
But Jordan really valued time with his mates.
“Even though I did a lot of study this year, I made sure I had time to hang out with my friends.”
Earlier in the year, he said they had a great time hiking The Pinnacles track in the Kauaeranga Valley together.
Jordan said after exams he planned to put time into improving his fitness.
He earned a black belt in Kiaido Ryu martial arts when he was 12, but since then “keeping fit hasn’t been a priority”, he said.
If Jordan could leave a piece of advice with next year’s senior students, it was to “study hard, but don’t let it take over your entire school year”.
“Doing well is much easier if you don’t leave it until the last minute,” he said.
“Make sure you leave some time for social activities with friends.”
Meanwhile, Maia Harrison was named Proxime Accessit to dux.
