KEY POINTS:
The country's top Project K students already had a year of challenges but yesterday they were dealt one more.
Aorere College's Laura Murray, 15, and St Thomas of Canterbury's Matthew Beck, 16, were cut free by firefighters from a simulated car crash in Penrose.
"I don't ever want to be in the real thing but it was really fun, exciting," said Laura, who was named top in Manukau in the nationwide programme to maximise youth potential.
Firefighters smashed the car's windows then used the jaws of life to cut the pair free.
Matthew said Project K's mentoring scheme was great. It boosted his confidence and drove him to achieve dreams, including winning sponsorship for his favourite hobby, skateboarding, and getting a part-time job to save for his first car.
His mother, Rachel Beck, said yesterday's simulation was timely before Matthew sat his restricted driver licence in a month. "This is a great lesson."
