Summer Teaching in New Zealand

Summer Pasutti ’25 took advantage of Simpson’s Study Abroad program to prepare for her career as an educator in a spectacular way. Pasutti enjoyed an unforgettable eight-week student teaching experience at Northcote College in Auckland, New Zealand.

“I spent my weekdays inside two Year 9 and one Year 10 classrooms and spent my weekends exploring New Zealand and learning about the Māori culture,” said Pasutti. “During student teaching, I was responsible for preparing lessons to help students prepare for their upcoming end-of-the-year NZQA exams.”

Fascinating field trips made Pasutti’s student teaching experience extra exciting. Her most memorable highlights included joining students and faculty for a week of immersive learning and activities Motutapu Island. The outdoor camp featured archery, kayaking on the ocean, team building exercises, and a chance to learn more about Māori culture.

During her time in New Zealand, Pasutti also had the thrill of navigating the South Island alone, living in hostels and creating friendships with people from all over the world. Her many adventures there included hiking through fields of lavender and lupin flowers and visiting the filming sites for “The Lord of the Rings.”

Gaining a World of Confidence

Pasutti says the sum of her experiences opened her to a whole new world of possibilities while growing her self-confidence in profound ways. What she gained in New Zealand makes her a passionate advocate for the value of Simpson’s Study Abroad learning programs.

“My experience was phenomenal and absolutely crucial in developing the person and educator I am today,” said Pasutti. “I broadened my perspective of the world through interactions and connections with others. Most of all, I found a sense of belonging and community that led to the sense of independence and clarity that I did not have before. Without the structure provided by Simpson and the knowledgeable people who set me on this path, I might never have found this sense of self in the broader scheme of life that I rely on today.”

Pasutti will begin her education career this fall as a middle school English Language Arts teacher while also coaching high school softball. Future aspirations include earning advanced degrees and the possibility of becoming a college professor.