KEY POINTS:
Tianyi Lu reckons life could be simpler if she pursues a career in medicine - but the Auckland teenager simply can't live without music.
One of nine just-announced recipients of the NZ Education & Scholarship Trust scholarships for 2007, Ms Lu is studying performance flute and composition.
Last
year's Epsom Girls Grammar dux made the "hard decision" to drop all sciences in her last year of high school because of her passion for music.
"I guess it's a more risky career," said Ms Lu, who came to New Zealand from China with her family at age 5.
"With a bachelor of science or whatever, it's more clear cut for you ... whereas music ... you don't know what your pay cheque is going to be."
She said her strong faith gave her the confidence to take the step.
"It was just a matter of realising I couldn't live without it. I wouldn't mind getting paid the minimum wage for the rest of my life as long as I'm doing music."
Already she has seen - and heard - her commitment pay off. Ms Lu's composition Mihoutao - the Chinese word for kiwifruit - was performed by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra last year.
Since 2004, the NZEST has granted nine $5000 scholarships to university students. Schools are asked to nominate two applicants. Last year, 90 schools nationally put forward 145 students for consideration.
A shortlist of 13 was interviewed earlier this month, with Ms Lu, Harry Aitken, Liam Fisk, Sam George and Celeste Oram the five Auckland-schooled recipients. For Ms Lu, news of the award couldn't have come at a better time.
She bought a new flute because her old one couldn't cope with the demands of her University of Auckland schedule and, she said, her Greenlane-based family were finding money particularly tight because of rising interest rates.
A member of the Auckland Youth Orchestra, Ms Lu hopes to become a professional flautist. She also loves to teach and is eyeing work as a composer for films.
HONOURS LIST
Latest NZ Education & Scholarship Trust scholars:
* Harry Aitken, from Massey High School, now at Auckland University
* Liam Fisk, from Sacred Heart College, now at Canterbury University
* Sam George, from Auckland Grammar School, now at Otago University
* Tianyi Lu, Epsom Girls Grammar School, now at Auckland University
* Celeste Oram, Diocesan School for Girls, now at Auckland University
* Mark Zhu, Palmerston North Boys High School, now at Auckland University
* Julie Zou, Palmerston North Girls High School, now at Auckland University
* Louis Chambers, Havelock North High School, now at Otago University
* Rafe Hampson, Wellington College, now at Auckland University