Scholarship takes student to France

John Paul College student Danielle Cooper, 17, has won a scholarship to go to France. Photo / Stephen Parker

Writing an essay in English can be hard enough, let alone in another language.

But for one Rotorua student, an essay written completely in French has helped her land an opportunity of a lifetime.

John Paul College Year 13 student Danielle Cooper, 17, was one of 10 people in New Zealand to be picked for the Young Ambassadors World War I Shared History Commemoration in France.

She was the only successful candidate from Rotorua.

Danielle will travel to France in September to visit historic and cultural sites of WWI, while undertaking research. She said she was "beyond ecstatic" when she found out her application had been successful.

"It's quite rare for such an amazing opportunity to become a reality. When I found out I would be going I was so excited.

"I have studied French since Year 9 so to have won this scholarship with my language subject playing a considerable role in that was great. It goes to show doing a language in school can really pay off."

She said she knew very little about the war before applying for the scholarship.

"It was a topic I had never really learned in detail. It wasn't until I was applying for the scholarship that I realised I had relatives who fought in the war. When I found that out, I was even more eager to go and see what more I could learn.

"As part of the scholarship we're required to keep a blog and do a personal inquiry. I've chosen to look into the Maori Battalion and more generally Rotorua's role in the war overseas."

She said it was important to try to understand what life was like 100 years ago. "There were men younger than me who lied about their age so they could go to war. It's important to try to understand the camaraderie felt and learn what happened more than a century ago."

While in France, Danielle has also been invited to take part in the World Youth Commemoration on September 15.