Dominic Bennett is about to leave home for the next stage of his education at the Auckland University School of Engineering.
He is one of the many who have been home-schooled in the district, with his mother Eileen who took on the role of teacher.
The 19-year-old has played violin for 12 years and a degree in music was to be expected.
However, like those musicians he'll be sharing the university's O'Rourke Halls of Residence with, he knows he can play music but sees his career options in another discipline.
Mr Bennett will study engineering with future plans to become an aerospace engineer, which is something he can do hands-on.