This week's Newsmaker is Paige Bushett, who has been selected to attend the prestigious 2014 Conference for Women in Science next month.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm 18 years old and am in my final year at Rotorua Lakes High School. I love listening to music, any kind of music. At the moment I'm really into Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco and old school music. I have two cats called Ginger Ninja and Dark Night.
How did you react when you found out you were one of 10 people in the country selected to attend the conference?
Well, it's kind of a funny story. On the day we were supposed to get an email telling us whether we got in or not, I didn't get anything. So I thought I didn't get selected.
Then at like 1.30 in the morning, I checked my phone and saw a message from my teacher, telling me I got in. I couldn't believe it.
I raced to tell my parents and Mum asked whether I had dreamt it. She thought I was dreaming. I'm still pretty stoked about it. I'm really looking forward to it.
What is it about science that you love so much?
It's just everything about it. There's science in everything and it's so systematic. It doesn't involve lots of waffle like English or some other subjects.
I guess what really got me into science at the start was my Dad. He's had a huge influence on me ever since I was a child. He even talked about science to me when I was a baby. We talk science all the time now.
What are your aspirations for the future?
I want to get involved in medicinal research, and maybe when I'm older become a high school science teacher, maybe like my chemistry teacher. She's such an inspiration.
In the near future though, I want to study medicinal chemistry at the University of Auckland. Auckland's a good place to go and it means I won't be too far away from Mum and Dad.
What do you do in your free time?
I have a part time job at Countdown as an online shopper. I like the job, I basically get to pick other peoples' groceries for them.
I'm also involved in the Rotorua District Youth Council, and that gives me lots of opportunities to do volunteer work. Soon I'll also be starting a placement at the hospital, shadowing a doctor and seeing how the hospital ticks.
This year I've been doing a lot because it's my final year and I wanted to step up and make the most of it.
What do you love about Rotorua?
Rotorua's great. It's quite spread out, central and the people are nice.
Tell us three things about yourself most people wouldn't know?
When I was 11 I learnt about child cancer and wanted to do something to help, so I shaved my head and with my Mum, raised about $2000 for charity.
I'm just in love with Justin Bieber. I have his posters all over my room, his CDs, perfume everything. He's just perfect. I love him.
I'm a sucker for a good love story. I get really sappy if I'm watching a sad love story. I went and saw the The Fault in Our Stars and just bawled my eyes out.
