Iwould love to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported me in achieving the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. I can still vividly recall my fellow Gold Award recipients’ muddy hands and caring reminders, my award leader and assessors’ guidance and patience throughout, and my family’s encouragement in every activity I undertook.
I had the greatest opportunity to advance my skills in distinctive fields through regular and systematic practices. Beyond the technical developments, the deeper lesson was to be Present. This lesson arrived primarily through adventurous journeys. Acknowledging from my heart, I often miss the days without overwhelming social media, academic stress, and anxiety about the future. I felt myself living in that moment in that setting. The trips into nature really enabled us to leave all the noise behind. We were connecting with what was in front of us: unfamiliar groupmates, my own body and the world. I started to truly understand why Present is the Present.
Moreover, in unfamiliar environments-whether in volunteering, residential projects or adventure journeys- I was given the valuable opportunity to confront my own comfort zone and explore new possibilities. I remember overcoming my introversion when volunteering at a care home, challenging my heart, lungs, and legs after considering myself “non-sporty” for the past 17 years. These experiences pushed my imaginary limits and welcomed me to new areas, new levels I have never dreamt of.
So thank you to everyone, including myself, who has made this journey so memorable and impactful. I enjoyed every step I took- honed new skills, focused on my current self and unlocked a better version of me. To any young person still on their DoE journey: keep going. The present is waiting for you.
Yuki & Peers: In the deep bush of the Hunua Ranges, the DofE Adventurous Journey organised by Greenfield challenges students from ACG Parnell, Macleans, St Kentigern, and Epsom Girls Grammar to lead from the front. By navigating complex terrain away from standard school-led routes, these participants develop the high-stakes decision-making and resilience that distinguish a world-class university portfolio.
我衷心感谢所有支持我获得爱丁堡公爵金奖的人。我至今仍清晰地记得其他金奖获得者沾满泥土的双手和他们充满关怀的提醒,记得我的奖项负责人和评估员们一路以来的指导和耐心,也记得我的家人在我参与的每一项活动中给予的鼓励。
我有幸通过规律且系统的练习,在各个领域提升了自己的技能。除了技术上的进步,更深层次的感悟是活在当下。而这一感悟主要来自充满冒险的旅程。我由衷地怀念那些没有铺天盖地的社交媒体、没有学业压力、没有对未来焦虑的日子。我感觉自己真正活在当下,置身于那个环境中。亲近自然的旅程让我们彻底摆脱了喧嚣。我们与眼前的一切建立连接:陌生的同伴、自己的身体以及整个世界。我开始真正理解“活在当下”的意义所在。
此外,在陌生的环境中——无论是志愿服务、社区项目还是探险之旅——我都获得了宝贵的机会,去挑战自己的舒适区,探索新的可能性。我记得在养老院做义工时,我克服了内向的性格,挑战了自己过去17年来一直认为自己“不爱运动”的心肺和大腿。这些经历突破了我的想象极限,带我进入了从未梦想过的新领域,达到了新的高度。
所以,感谢所有人,包括我自己,是你们让这段旅程如此难忘而意义非凡。我享受每一步——磨练新技能,专注于当下,并发掘出更好的自己。致所有仍在参加爱丁堡公爵奖项目的年轻人:坚持下去。美好的未来正等着你。
图注
Yuki & Peers:在胡努阿山脉的茂密丛林中,由 YES! 组织的爱丁堡公爵奖探险之旅挑战来自ACG Parnell、Macleans、St Kentigern和Epsom Girls Grammar的学生们,让他们在真实世界里发挥领导作用。通过探索远离学校常规路线的复杂地形,这些参与者培养了在高风险情况下做出智慧决策的能力和韧性,而这正是世界一流大学申请者必备的素质。






