Juliet McKinlay

My name is Juliet McKinlay, and I am super excited and looking forward to being on board with the Pinnacle Programme!

A few things about myself is that I am heading into Year 13 at Whanganui Collegiate School as Deputy Head Girl for 2026. I am passionate about wildlife, travelling, the outdoors and sports. I love spending time with my family and friends; they are my main support and are constantly there for me in any situation. These have all shaped me into who I am today and I am very grateful!! 

Sport has been one of the main driving forces in my life. I started playing sport and getting involved when I was quite young and I have loved it ever since. I have met so many incredible people, grown from my experiences racing and training, progressed my knowledge of commitment and motivation, while also making the most of the opportunities I have luckily been provided with. This year I was selected to represent New Zealand as part of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Athletics team which headed over to Los Angeles, California. I competed in the Heptathlon, Javelin, and 100m Hurdle Events. Being able to experience this level of sport brought me so much awareness and appreciation for the dedication and resilience to compete at these events, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time over there. As well as competing in athletics during the summer, I play hockey in the winter season. Playing a team sport and an individual sport allows me to make many friendships that I would not have made, if I did not continue on my sporting path since I was young. For me, playing sport teaches you to love the journey, not just the destination.

I am committed to my academic studies; I enjoy the science and health aspects of school, it really interests me and I would love to have a future career and further opportunities in those areas. I hope that through the Pinnacle Progamme, I will be able to gain some insight into potential career pathways to suit me, my interests and leadership potential.

Looking ahead to next year, I am especially excited to be part of the leadership team at WCS. I think that it will give me a lot of insight into who I want to become, how I would like to be involved within the school life and what I can do to give back to a community that has given me so much. I hope to be someone others can always come to talk to, and be that friendly face which gives off a positive and enthusiastic energy. My goal is to inspire others to dream big, and help them reach their true potential through their own passions.

I am super grateful and privileged to be a part of the Pinnacle Programme, and I can’t wait to test my limits, challenge my comfort zone and make lifelong memories along the way.