YuWan pulls the strings | Auckland Lifestyle News | Health, Fashion, Food and Wine in Auckland

This Westlake Girls' High student is working her way to the top of the academic world, violin in hand, writes Rebecca Blithe.

Over the noise of chair legs being shunted across lino, rises the haunting violin drawl of Ave Maria. It fills the hall and reverberates into the drizzling, grey day. The chair shuffler stops, a woman in the doorway stops, everyone stops, except the mesmerising music-maker, 16-year-old YuWan Chang of Westlake Girls High School.

It would seem YuWan never rests. She studies until two in the morning when she has a test, she practises the violin for an hour every day - two and a half when preparing for a competition. As if this isn't enough, YuWan dedicated 46 hours to community aid over six months.

Born in Korea and recently migrated from Texas, this high achiever's efforts have not gone unnoticed. She has been granted membership of the US National Society of High School Scholars, founded by Claes Nobel of the family that established the Nobel Prize.

The society, which has 11 Nobel Prize-winners on its board, selects only the top high school academics worldwide to join. Applicants must also demonstrate a talent, leadership qualities and devote time to community services.

As a member, YuWan will be eligible for an array of scholarships, with exclusive access to educational resources and a substantially higher chance of getting into an Ivy League college in the US.

"It looks really good on your college resume. Usually, most Ivy League students are NSHSS. My dream is to go to Princeton. I want to become a chemist. I'd like to provide medicine for kids that couldn't pay. That would be wonderful. And to give free medicine to my parents," says YuWan, who sees the membership as a great reward.

"I felt all the hard work I did had paid off. Along the way my parents have supported me. They would tell me, 'This time is hard, just bear it and you will have a great future'."

YuWan's father, Yong Chang, former general manager of Korean Air, expresses quiet pride. "As a father, to hold her as a baby and now to see how she's developed herself, I am proud of her. She's tried hard. I remember the first time she played [violin] for her grandparents."

That was at the age of 6. Since then, YuWan has joined the Dallas Greater Youth Orchestra and won a regional competition as her orchestra's concert mistress, the highest position in an orchestra.

On starting at Westlake, YuWan joined the school's chamber orchestra as one of six first violinists.

Westlake Girls' High School principal Alison Gernhoefer is delighted to have this quiet achiever at the school.

"The thing about YuWan is her modesty and humility," she says.

"Sometimes, when people have these gifts, they don't usually display these qualities. We know she'll do very well and are confident she'll have a glittering future."

High achievers

The National Society of High School Scholars has members in 180 countries. Westlake Girls' High School is looking into membership being made available to New Zealand students and what level of NCEA or Cambridge results must be achieved for consideration.