Penny Stilgoe. Photo supplied.If you’re passionate about a subject then study never seems like hard work, says Ashburton College’s top Year 12 student Penny Stilgoe.

She achieved a healthy trophy haul at this year’s Year 12 prizegiving, not only taking the ANZ Bank Academic Achievement award but also top subject prizes for accounting, biology and chemistry.

“I work hard and it does take a lot of time but I really enjoy it, they’re subjects I’m passionate about,” she said.

Her favourite subject is agriculture and that’s where she sees her future, studying towards a degree in agricultural science at Lincoln University.

“There are heaps of opportunities there, they’re incredible.”

While she puts long hours into study, Penny has plenty of distractions. She’s a volunteer with the Willowby Fire Brigade and she’s chair of the district’s TeenAg group.

“It’s a bit of a balancing act with late nights definitely in there coming up to exams, but I’ve got incredible family support,” she said.

When the fire siren goes, Penny and her mother both respond, but if there’s an exam the next day and the call-out is at night, Penny said that might be a call she skips.

TeenAg is a group she keenly supports and takes part in as many of its events as possible, recently competing in a YFC skills day at Mt Somers Station.

She also holds down an after school job and over the summer holidays will be working full-time on a dairy farm.

Penny is no newcomer to awards, having taken top student prizes each year at college and winning a Year 9 scholarship, however, she won’t be going into Year 13 with her eye on the dux award at the year’s end.

“That would just put too much pressure on myself.

“I’ll be looking longer term, to university and my goal will be on scholarships,” she said.

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 9 November 2019