Student Success Stories

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

 I would like to study medicine and continue to explore my passions of science and music.

What were some academic highlights for you?

I am really grateful for all my teachers this year. My relationships with teachers were quite different from previous years, as they felt more equal and collaborative in Year 12. I found myself genuinely engaging with the content of my subjects rather than simply going through the motions of assessments, and that made my learning much more enjoyable.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort of 2026?

Consistency is key. Even if you start by doing a small amount of work for each subject daily, it’s those tiny victories that really help you build momentum throughout the year. I also found it helpful this year to view assessments not as obstacles, but as opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding in the subject.

What is your favourite memory from your time at the College?

I have many fond memories from my time at PAC, but my favourite ones are Intercol, Generations in Jazz, Valedictory, and lunchtime soccer.

Completing Year 12 in a large diverse cohort where everyone strove for excellence in different area: academics, sport, music, trades, and everything in between. Despite this diversity, the boys in my year have always been incredibly supportive and uplifting of one another. Events like Intercol, with so many supporters for so many different events, demonstrate the strong sense of camaraderie within our cohort.

What were the highlights of studying at university while finishing Year 12?

Having the opportunity to participate in laboratory practicals with cadavers was an incredible experience I had never come close to encountering before. I also enjoyed meeting students from other high schools who had a similar passion for learning about Health Sciences.

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

I hope to study a degree in medicine either locally or interstate.

What were some academic highlights for you?

Some of the key events that I’ve been fortunate enough to have been a part of have been studying Stage 2 Biology in Year 11 and being involved in the Headstart University Program. Firstly, undertaking Year 12 subjects as a Year 11 presented a lot of new challenges to adjust to the additional workload and the standard of the quality of work required to succeed. It was a big step in maturing quickly into the mindset of studying for Year 12 tests and exams and was a critical part of preparing myself to tackle Year 12. Furthermore, as part of the Headstart program this year, I got insight into life after high school in a subject area of my interest- Human Anatomy. Attending weekly lectures, tutorials and labs on top of Year 12 studies challenged me in adapting to self-directed learning and was key in allowing me to develop a timetable and balance my workload accordingly. This year has been very rewarding for me as I’ve pushed myself harder than I ever have before and I'm grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been given along the way which have guided me to where I am today.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort of 2026?

Plan your time out- for me, one of the key things I did to tackle the mountain of assignments and tests that Year 12 presented was to plan out my week ahead and create checkpoints for completing tasks. Consistent work over the course of the year helped minimise last minute cramming and the feeling of being overwhelmed. 

Utilise all the help you can get- your teachers are all here to support you and guide you throughout the year and go above and beyond behind the scenes to make sure you succeed. Whether it's catching up on gaps in content or seeking clarification to polish up assignments, the support network that PAC offers will ensure extra support so things as simple as sending an email to a teacher, asking to stay behind after class or setting up an out-of-class meeting are all ways to use the support given to the best of your ability.

What is your favourite memory from your time at the College?

Some of the key memories I will treasure are Year 9 Wambana, going to watch all my friends play at Intercol in my final year of schooling, Valedictory events and Celebration Day. Looking back on these times at the college, it makes me grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given and moments I will always cherish.

What were the highlights of studying at university while finishing Year 12?

Some of the key highlights was visiting the Ray Last Laboratory, where I got to observe cadavers and apply knowledge learned in class into real life. Attending weekly lectures and tutorials gave me insight into what university life is like but also presented me with the challenge to adjust to the additional work and develop the skills required to independently study.

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

 I hope to study medicine somewhere in Australia

What were some academic highlights for you?

Completing my English comparative was my proudest moment of my Year 12 journey. It was a task I invested countless hours into researching, planning and seeking feedback. Once it was all over, it felt incredibly rewarding and relieving. I am eternally grateful to Mr Bailey for his ongoing support throughout the year. He was consistently approachable and provided valuable feedback and assistance whenever I needed it the most despite his other commitments. This made a significant difference to my confidence and success and is something I truly valued.

Another major highlight for me was studying Chemistry in Year 12. Although I always had a deep passion for chemistry in the middle school, I often fell short of where I aspired to be. This year, thanks to Mrs McKinnon’s teaching and her ongoing support, I was able to understand the content well and thoroughly enjoyed every lesson.

Similarly, Physics was a memorable part of my academic journey. Even during periods when I felt under pressure, Mr Russo and Ms Schofield offered guidance, insightful feedback, and help me grow into the best Physics student I could be but also a better student in general.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort of 2026?

My most important piece of advice is simple, maybe even a little cliché, but I’ve seen its truth play out time and again: the people who succeed aren’t always the smartest in the room, but they are almost always the ones who show up, day after day, ready to put in the work. Raw talent is a great starting point, but it’s sustained, consistent effort that builds the bridge between where you are and where you want to be. I’ve always thought of Year 12 as a rigorous, nine-month project. It’s not something you can casually drift through. To truly stand out, you need to approach it with clear intent, map out your strategy and then commit to it fully, in every assignment and every study session. That relentless, disciplined effort is the engine that will drive you toward your goals.

Finally, I’ll pass on one very practical tip: take your biggest, most important goal and write it down in bold letters. Put it on a whiteboard or a sticky note right where you’ll see it every day. During my own Year 12, there were definitely moments where I felt lost in the grind and started questioning all the hard work. In those low points, I’d look up at that note. It was a direct message from my past self, reminding me that I had chosen this path deliberately, for a dream that mattered deeply to me. That visual anchor reinforced that I wasn’t working hard because someone was making me, I was doing it for my own future.

This idea connects perfectly to a line from one of my favourite films, 3 Idiots. While the movie is hilarious, it offers a piece of profound wisdom through its main character: “Excellence ka peecha karo, success jhak marke tumhare peeche aayegi.” Or, in translation: “Chase excellence, and success will chase you.” Let that be your guiding principle.

What is your favourite memory from your time at the College?

My favourite memory would have been winning Head of River in the Yr10B crew. I was surrounded by great people and a great crew that had worked immensely hard throughout the season and finishing the season with a win when it matters most was something I will always remember.  

What were the highlights of studying at university while finishing Year 12?

I have always had a strong interest in the sciences, so the opportunity to pursue a subject like Nutrition at a university level was both interesting and personally rewarding. The course served as a natural and fascinating extension of the foundational concepts I had learned in my Year 12 Biology studies. Beyond the specific subject matter, it also provided an invaluable preview of the expectations and independent learning style characteristic of university. While academic support was available, the course was structured primarily asynchronously. This flexible format, while convenient, required me to cultivate a significant degree of self-discipline, compelling me to manage my workload and initiate my studies without regular external prompting.

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

I am wanting to study a double degree in law at Adelaide University and see where this career path can lead me. I also will stay involved with the college, coaching in the rowing program and I also hope to do some tutoring.

What were some academic highlights for you?

I particularly enjoyed studying Economics in year 12 as it was very different from all of my other subjects, and it developed into an area that I became really interested and engaged in. Also, choosing Chemistry in year 12 despite it not being my best subject in year 11, and being dedicated to this challenging subject was highly rewarding.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort of 2026?

Firstly, the relationship that you build with each of your teachers is pivotal in you reaching your potential. Regarding study, the most important thing is to figure out what method of study/revision best works for you as early as possible. This means that you will be more efficient in your studies later in the year, so that you can properly enjoy all of the special moments that come with year 12 such as formal and valedictory and being with mates. On this, it is so important to remember to enjoy your time at the school and build as many relationships as possible in your final year.

What is your favourite memory from your time at the College?

Winning Head of the River in 2025 in the 1st VIII. I will always remember every detail of this day and this memory will remain vivid for decades mainly because of the people that I was fortunate to do it with, and that it was the reward for immense sacrifice.

What were the highlights of studying at university while finishing Year 12?

It was insightful being exposed to how university learning works and how it differs from of school in terms of having much greater autonomy and agency. Additionally, it was awesome being challenged in a slightly different format to school.

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

I am looking into study a double degree of Aerospace engineering and computer science in UNSW.

What were some academic highlights for you?

Doing university studies while not dropping any stage 2 subjects was a challenge. Looking back at my achievements in every one of those subjects though, I can say it was a big academic highlight for me, being able to keep a high standard of work while managing my time between university study and SACE subjects.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort of 2026?

Be prepared for year 12, your mindset must not be the same as it was in year 11 or below as year 12 being your final year will decide your future. No matter what you want to do in the future, whether you want to go into professional sports or anything that doesn’t require a high ATAR, still do your absolute best, as you will allow yourself to have more opportunities in the future.

You may feel the pressure of year 12 due to assignments due date overlapping with one another, plan your schedule, aim to finish your drafts before the due date so you won’t feel as overwhelmed. This also leaves time where you can ask teachers for feedback as you develop your work to make sure it is the highest quality you can produce. A high-quality draft is much more helpful at achieving your desired grade than an unfinished or poorly written draft.

Term 3 will be shorter than expected due to various commitments often take place in term 3 such as the winter Intercol, House Music and other activities which will take up quite a bit of time. Hence it is important to plan your study for tests and start preparing for the end of year examination or final assessment. In SACE your external tasks are more important than you think.

What is your favourite memory from your time at the College?

My favourite memory will probably either be part of the Generations in Jazz tour or the Term 3 concert.

What were the highlights of studying at university while finishing Year 12?

It was quite an experience having three folio tasks due in the same week as a university case study. I enjoyed staying behind after school to attend the university workshop with a friend of mine who was doing the same course as me, exchanging our understanding and views on the topic. Studying university while finishing year 12 allowed me to access academic articles through the university account which I would not otherwise had access to and I used these in several subjects.

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

I hope to study a degree in the field of pharmacology next year at the new Adelaide University, with the goal of eventually obtaining my pharmacy license and owning a franchise.

What were some academic highlights for you?

I think one of my main highlights was being fortunate enough to have Mr Gardner as my Economics teacher this year. The main thing I really appreciated about his style of teaching was his ability to draw parallels between the course’s content and instances of such economic theory playing out in the real world. I think he did this particularly well as he previously worked at the Reserve Bank of Australia (which he told us just a few times) and so had to use much of the course’s theory practically for many years in such position.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort of 2026?

I know it sounds cliché but the most important factor in doing well in Year 12 is effective time management. I wish I had used the summer holidays to get ahead on the content and I definitely wish I had started doing practice exams earlier. Year 12 is not actually that stressful if you plan ahead and hit the ground running in Term 1. Stress usually comes from not being prepared for upcoming assessments and this can be avoided by staying on top of content early. Then in the days leading up to assessments or assignment deadlines you can focus on refining your understanding and polishing your work rather than cramming to catch up.

What is your favourite memory from your time at the College?

My favourite memory would be Valedictory, both the assembly and the dinner. Seeing the whole year level come together for one final time to celebrate everyone’s achievement of graduating felt incredible. I also really appreciated being able to say goodbye to some peers that where departing interstate or oversees after graduating and hopefully we will catch up some time in the future again.

By the end of our schooling, many of us had so many shared experiences that it was impossible not to feel close to most people in the year level in at least some way whether it be Wambana in Year 9, co-curricular sport, or the countless hours spent together in the classroom with one another.

What were the highlights of studying at university while finishing Year 12?

The main highlight was the level of autonomy I had over my learning. Being able to complete work on my own time gave me a sense of independence that I had not experienced before in a school setting. I could structure my study in a way that suited me deciding when to watch lectures, when to complete readings, and how to organise my notes and assignments rather than having a teacher that polices me (which of course does have some positives!). Another major highlight was the academic challenge. There were moments when I was pushed way beyond the typical Year 12 expectations, but this only helped me realise that if I put in the effort I was fully capable of performing at a university level. That realisation has boosted my confidence enormously and has made the idea of transitioning into full-time university study feel far less intimidating.

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

Studying diagnostic radiography at university. After completing my bachelor degree, I plan to try to become a pilot.

What were some academic highlights for you?

Mostly enjoying the lessons that I liked, and being able to receive countless awards.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort of 2026?

I did not spend all my time studying but instead I took up soccer and squash in the winter. There wasn’t a trade off from doing what I enjoy and academic result, and this made my year 12 especially enjoyable. However, I will suggest that you need to be clear on what you need to do at a certain stage. Focusing on your tests or assignments when you need to, not because you are forced by someone or something externally, but based on your desire to strive for better.

What is your favourite memory from your time at the College?

Winning three consecutive squash intercols and especially lifting the trophy as the captain in year 12.

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

Next year I plan on studying further at the new Adelaide University, undertaking a double degree with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary). In doing so I would like to major in History and minor in English, aiming for a career as a History/English teacher. Not only do I see this as a way to continue nurturing my passion for certain subjects and learning in general, but I view teaching as a career in which I can make a genuine impact on others. Teachers in my schooling journey have had a profound impact on not only my academic capacity but who I am as a person overall, and I can only hope to achieve such success in inspiring others in the future.

What were some academic highlights for you?

I have enjoyed many highlights in my academic journey. One of the most intense periods of my time at the school was when my Internal Assessments and Extended Essay began approaching their respective deadlines. Whilst stressful, the relief and pride in completing my various assessments, notably my History and Maths IAs, at a high level was a true highlight within academia for me. Additionally, in the final stages of Year 11, I was awarded 6 subject awards and the Bill Jeffries Prize which was an incredible ending to the first year of the IBDP. This moments stands out not only as a highlight in my academic life in school, but in my entire schooling journey.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2026?

I would encourage the class of 2026 and future Year 12s in general to always aim high and work consistently to achieve your goals. It is imperative in one’s final year of schooling that work does not overwhelm you, and therefore, every little bit of work counts. By consistently working to a high target, you can chip away at the work load and achieve more than you might think yourself capable of. Something is always better than nothing, and determination when pressure starts to build to maintain work ethic and stay on course is the most important factor in achieving highly. Further, you need not do this alone, and I implore everyone to lean on the support of teachers, friends, and family. Surrounding yourself with the right people can help maintain accountability and keep a balance between social and study life.

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

After school, I do not know exactly what I wish to do at university, nor as a profession. However, I do have ambitions to not only be to be accepted into my chosen university course–whatever that may be–but to actively work towards achieving the best result that I can in this course. 

After I complete my schooling journey, with whichever pathway I choose to pursue, I hope that I will be able to give back to my community through my continued value for service, whether through advocacy, volunteering or any other forms. In my career, I want to be able to make a positive difference in the world.

What were some academic highlights for you?

One of the biggest academic tasks in the IBDP is the Extended Essay. For this task, I wrote a comparative analysis between two texts: Here, by Richard McGuire, and Orbital, by Samantha Harvey. This English Extended Essay, whilst extremely challenging, was even more rewarding, and I owe a lot of the enjoyment and knowledge that I gained throughout this process to my Extended Essay Supervisor, Ms. Matsouliadis. During my Extended Essay, not only did I learn about the specific nuances of each text, and the themes they explore–such as Climate Change and Non-anthropocentrism–but I was also able to deepen my skills in comparative writing, and my English skills as a whole, all of which I was able to utilise in my final exams, and will use long into the future.

Many of my academic highlights have occurred towards the end of my schooling journey. Partly, these highlights can be attributed to the nature of the IBDP, which pushes students outside of their academic comfort zone, in order to strive to understand the deeper meaning behind knowledge, all while becoming positive societal contributors, through core subjects such as Theory of Knowledge (ToK) and Creativity-Activity-Service (CAS). However, and most importantly, many of the highlights of my time at PAC and throughout my school life stem from the tireless dedication of my teachers, who work selflessly with and for their students. Without the support from all of my teachers, I can say with confidence that I would not be where I am now, and I am so fortunate for the passion that all the PAC teachers have in their respective fields, and for their genuine interest that they have in the success of their students. This not only makes learning so much easier and enjoyable, but has also made my time at PAC one that I will never forget.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2026?

To the Y12 cohort of 2026, the biggest piece of advice that I could give is to enjoy your time at PAC- not only academically, but socially and personally as well. 

Especially in the IBDP, with relatively open-ended Internal Assessments , choosing topics that you are truly passionate about will not only make that particular assignment much more enjoyable, but will deepen your knowledge and understanding far better than completion of tasks you are less interested in. Through the Internal Assessment and Examination process, another thing that I wish I could go back and strengthen for myself is not learning for the sake of learning, nor for the sake of scoring high marks, but instead, learning to understand the content. Through this, by understanding the content, and the implicit details that make seeming factual claims true, you will be able to achieve a much more profound knowledge base long into the future. 

Building on what I mentioned above, the teachers at PAC are something extremely special, and unique to our school. They will support the students unconditionally to achieve their best, and as such, it is imperative that you recognise the importance of your teachers in your Y12 studies–always seeking help when you find something difficult and being proactive on the feedback they provide–without taking any of it for granted.

Additionally, it is extremely important to lead a balanced school life, even in Y12. Whilst it is undeniably important to study hard, schoolwork is not the only thing that is important, nor are your final results. Extracurriculars, whether in music, sport, service-learning, performing arts or any other shape or form, are equally as important. These activities form the base of the enjoyment of your school life, and thus, to truly maximise a schooling career, it is imperative to pursue the things you love, with the people you love, while also completing your studies. Seize the opportunities you are presented with and recognise how fortunate we are as a school community to have so many diverse extracurricular programs on offer.  

What are your post-secondary ambitions?  

I hope to pursue a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne with a major in Chemistry and a diploma of language in either Chinese or French. Using these qualifications, I would like to work as an engineer, although I am not entirely sure what discipline I want to work in.  

What were some academic highlights for you?  

My extended essay in philosophy was definitely my most treasured academic achievement, as it allowed me the freedom to consider complex and epistemic issues which all societies face. The research component of the task was especially rewarding as I was able to find credible sources who shared similar ideas about problems. I am especially grateful to my supervisor, Mr Foy, for all the guidance he provided and his seemingly endless patience in answering, in depth and thoughtfully, my many questions.  

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2026?  

I would encourage the 2026 Year 12 cohort to be consistent in your study and completion of assessments, as it will reduce the stress placed upon you in the lead up to your final examinations. I would also encourage you to fully participate in your lessons and create meaningful connections with your teachers. They are extremely committed to accommodating your challenges and have a genuine interest in your education. Finally, ensure you have a positive work-life balance, spending time away from your subjects and relaxing to prevent burnout towards the end of the year.