CRIMSON EDUCATION • 2020
WOMEN OF THE FUTURE Words by Kristen Fox CAREERS & PATHWAYS STRATEGIST What happens when you have Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) without the Arts? The loss of creativity, imagination and non-linear thinking? How does one dream up the solutions to the world’s scientific problems? Develop cures? Design bridges? Push our world further. Without these creative solutions, STEM would not be as powerful. I would argue that those who are accomplished in the STEM industries,
have a creative side that has allowed them to flourish and outpace their peers. These are the leaders in the world that have designed, created and pushed boundaries. At Rangi Ruru, our values have always included the Arts. When STEM became all the rage, Rangi Ruru continued to offer their liberal arts courses and valued them as much as the sciences. Instead of opting to solely focus on
the current educational trends, Rangi pushed past the noise and embraced what the Arts bring to a curriculum. They never put students in a box and made them choose. Students could have both – be both – study both. This freedom has not only pushed Rangi Ruru’s students to incredible heights, but has given Rangi graduates the advantage of stretching beyond the bounds of what society deemed essential.
Rangi’s students push the boundaries of groupthink, using creative strategies to hit bold targets in their fields. They question and challenge the way things are done. Take one of our most recent graduates, Anneka Calder (class of 2019). In her first year of tertiary studies at the University of Auckland, Anneka received the inaugural ‘Bachelor of Design Game Changer’ scholarship worth $15,000. Using personal experience, and her creative drive, Anneka explained how she can use her design skills to be a game changer in the future. Combining elements of environment, technology and design, Anneka will assist those who previously had barriers (specifically students with dyslexia) to succeed and achieve in their chosen fields.
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