Student Success Stories

University of Adelaide Headstart - High Distinctions in

• Human Anatomy and Physiology 1A
• Introduction to Forensic Sciences

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

After graduating, my goal is to study a degree in Medicine. I’ve always had an inclination towards science and a natural curiosity about the human body, and I felt that the healthcare sector in particular would allow me to further develop that, all while being able to interact and make a meaningful difference to people’s lives. The problem solving, diversity of career opportunities, scope of practice and the ability to work as a team towards the common goal of helping people when they’re most vulnerable is something that I am really passionate about and eager to explore further. I’m also pretty keen on continuing playing footy, so if I’m fortunate enough to get in and stay in South Australia, I’ll play for the Prince Alfred Old Collegians Football Club.

What were some academic highlights for you?

What I am most proud of is my consistent effort throughout the year. For the most part, I was able to balance my leadership, academic, social and sporting commitments, while not needing to make too many sacrifices that compromised my ability to maintain a balanced lifestyle. However, my academic highlight this year has to be the submission of my externally assessed comparative essay for English. After my teacher encouraged me to analyse two relatively challenging absurdist texts, it was definitely the most effort and time I had put into an assignment during my schooling. The relief and pride after finally finishing it was beaten only by the feeling of finishing my final exams a few weeks ago.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2024?

My biggest advice would be to seek as much help from teachers and past students as possible, and to invest time in learning how to more effectively learn. It’s so easy to study and copy the way everyone else does things, but optimising this so that you can spend less time studying allows you to prioritise down-time and maintain a healthy balance between school, sport and a social life. Something I also found really beneficial, as cliché as it sounds, was to just do my best and avoid comparing myself to others. I tend to be overly critical as is, and these comparisons about grades or the amount of time spent studying were so often counterproductive. It was a busy year and was overwhelming at times, but by being realistic when planning out my week and not relying on spurts of motivation I was able to consistently chip away at my goals during what was a mammoth of a year.

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

My afterschool ambition is to pursue a successful and meaningful career in medicine. Medicine was something I was always intrigued in pursuing since a young age, but I never really understood what being a doctor meant until my later senior school years. A combination of volunteering and personal experience solidified my desire to purse this as a career. However, I still wish to also pursue badminton on the side and will see where it takes me.

What were some academic highlights for you?

Entering the year with the idea that every assessment task matters was particularly daunting, but throughout the year I realised that it wasn’t too different to other years. In fact, I think the whole year was such a highlight and positive experience for me. Connecting with my teachers on a deeper level was particularly heartening, and the time spent in class with my mates became a cherished highlight. Whilst at times, the assessments and workload were overwhelming, the teachers were fully invested in our learning and wanted nothing more but for us to be the very best we could be. They were never afraid to give up their lunchtimes or spend time after school to help; something I am so grateful for.

To be honest, I think the biggest challenge and something I never want to do again in my life that I encountered this year were the maths investigations. I was lucky enough to do 2 full maths investigations with 15 pages each and totalling about 15,000 words. Not fun. Submitting these two pieces of work was the maybe greatest relief that I’ve had all year.

I think all my teachers this year had such a positive influence on my year 12 experience, and I genuinely can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done. To all my teachers throughout my time at the college, in particular my teachers this year: Ms Schofield, Ms Matthews, Mr Drew, Mr Oomens, Mr Steer and Dr Hu, I am so grateful for your unwavering support, and without your help, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2024?

I think this advice doesn’t really apply to just the year 12 cohort, but to anyone in the college no matter what year level. Year 12 doesn’t start when you’re in year 12. It starts right now. It starts when you decide to care about your academics no matter what year level, you’re in. Don’t do things for the sake of doing things. Do it to be better, because there is no point doing things half-heartedly, because you think “it’s not year 12 yet, I’ll start trying in year 12”. I applied this mindset and when it came to year 12, there wasn’t really a big shock or change, I just thought of it as any other year and to be honest, I think that was key to a smooth and enjoyable year for me,

My last piece of advice is to have no regrets. Go into the year and leave everything on the table. Go to all the Intercols, go to all the events and activities the school offers, do every practice test your teacher gives you and do everything with a sense of passion and desire. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, take every opportunity you have to ask questions, clarify, then understand, practice, practice and practice. And on the weekends, go out, hang out with mates and have fun. As the saying goes: “leave no stone unturned”.

Governor of South Australia Commendation Excellence Award

University of Adelaide Headstart - High Distinctions in

• Foundations of Law
• Introduction to Global Politics

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

My immediate plan is to study the Bachelor of Laws (Hons)/Bachelor of Economics at the Australian National University. I’m unsure what I want to do for a career at the moment but am considering journalism, public policy research, or a career in the law. I look forward to travelling with mates and spending some more time on my hobbies now that Year 12 is over.

What were some academic highlights for you?

I’ve enjoyed all of my Year 12 subjects, but in particular the English Literary Studies course with Mr Wilde. He’s been a fantastic teacher and I learnt so many random/interesting things beyond the scope of a normal English class; the history of East Berlin, the Salem witch trials, or the British colony in Burma. Other academic highlights during my time at Princes include completing my Research Project on the compensation scheme for wrongful convictions in SA, Economics with Mr Simpson, and Mr Foy’s Year 10 Philosophy class.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2024?

First, make sure to get on top of things early. Year 12 can be stressful during assessment cycles but if you plan well, prepare early, and don’t leave assignments to the last minute you will find it is far easier than you think. Use your teachers - ask questions, stay behind after class if you need help, and ask for feedback on drafts. Everyone at school wants to see you succeed and you should make the most of the resources available to you. Second, make sure to find time for yourself and disconnect from study - for me that was going out on weekends with mates, not working on one day a week, and participating in sport/music.

University of Adelaide Headstart - High Distinctions in

• Music Technology Foundations
• Sonic Arts in Practice 1

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

Following year 12, I plan [alongside 2 other fellow graduating students] to pursue music full time within the immediate term, having signed onto management and pursuing further music releases alongside festivals and touring. In providing a stable foundation from which to support this pursuit, I have also submitted preferences for a Law and Commerce double degree at Adelaide University. 

What were some academic highlights for you?

My final year of schooling was complete with several noteworthy highlights, however the most important would have to have been the resounding quality of the teachers. I was fortunate enough to have studied Economics under Mr Simpson, Modern History under Miss Sexton, English Lit Studies under Miss Christie and Music Explorations under Mr Edge, alongside several experienced lecturers throughout my Headstart courses at Adelaide University. Their endless commitment and genuine investment was a true privilege and is something I am indisputably grateful for.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2024?

If you are looking to maximise your final year, try to minimise ‘quitting’ a lot of the co-curricular’s that may be considered insignificant in the wake of a year 12 workload. The school is unique in its depth of opportunities that extend past solely academic pursuits, and maintaining a healthy load of co-curricular will greatly enhance your year. If you prioritise effective time management [especially earlier in the year before work starts to compound], then you will have more than enough time for extra activities on top of schoolwork, and these can offer an invaluable source of motivation when the workload steps up.

University of Adelaide Headstart - High Distinctions in

• Music Technology Foundations
• Sonic Arts in Practice 1

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

In 2024 I am pursuing music full-time with my band Tonix. It is my dream to take this as far as I can with Henry Brill Reed and our team. Ideally one day we will be playing shows all around the country and world, but for now we will start with a headline December show and Vintage Vibes Festival in January. 

What were some academic highlights for you?

For me, maths has always been an area of vulnerability where I have struggled to compete with other boys and also displayed a lot less confidence. Because of this, an absolute highlight has been working with Mrs Williams from year 9 to 11, which led to my best ever maths exam in year 11, as well as Mr Colaiacovo who has guided me through Mathematical Methods in year 12. These two have influenced me a lot and are amazing and humorous teachers. 

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2024?

Do not quit things to prioritise academics! Year 12 is about balance, and people who are busier learn to work harder and achieve more. One of the most important factors of my success academically has been the learning that occurs outside school hours at trainings/rehearsals/out in the world. If academic achievement is your sole priority and you lose sight of healthy balance, you will burn out and come to dislike your subjects. 

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

Following year 12, I would love to earn a place at Adelaide University to study the Doctor of Medicine in 2024. This has been my dream career from ever since I was young, due to the ability to make meaningful change in someone’s life in a setting that calls to my interest of communication and the human body. Subjects related to medicine that PAC offered such as biology and chemistry drew a huge interest to me and solidified my goal of pursuing medicine. Other post-secondary ambitions would be to play footy and water polo for the PAC Old Collegians, as well as travelling to different places around the world to broaden my experience and exposure to life.

What were some academic highlights for you?

I am most proud of the effort I put in this year, and the continual ‘grind’ which led me to where I am today. This year was tough, as I had to balance year 12, UCAT preparation, co-curricular pursuits and leadership roles, but I’m glad I finished year 12 with a sense of pride knowing that whatever my results were, I put in all the effort I could. Ever since beginning at PAC in year 8, I have understood that the college has an effort orientated teaching style, which praises hard work over talent – I truly believe this is one of the most important lessons to teach young men. I’m glad PAC has taught me the importance of learning rather than achieving, work ethic, and gratefulness as it has prepared me as much as possible for the future. More specifically I would like to thank all my teachers throughout my time at PAC who have made learning an enjoyable experience and have taught me many valuable lessons throughout my life.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2024?

The one piece of advice I would give any student is to communicate with people both inside and outside of school. As I found out, year 12 is a time full of hardship and struggle, and often, the issues encountered cannot be faced alone. Communicating with friends, family, older students, and teachers really aided my year, as they provide valuable insight and strategies from their own experiences through school and life. Staying happy and healthy should be your number one priority throughout life to make it an enjoyable experience to aid in your personal development. Year 12 is high pressure, so by communicating your experience, you alleviate the burden of perfection. Do your best, work hard, and the results will show.

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

I want to pursue my interest in mathematics at university, with the ultimate goal of a PhD in the field. I’d like to spend at least some of that time studying abroad, preferably in the UK, hopefully ending up with a career in maths academia.

What were some academic highlights for you?

My Extended Essay was definitely the highlight of my academic experience. As someone wanting to continue with mathematics at higher levels, the experience of producing a genuine, complete mathematical work was invaluable. The various challenges that the Essay presented taught me a great deal about how the maths world operates, and, more importantly, that I really enjoyed tackling and ultimately overcoming them. It left me full of confidence for the next step in my journey.

On the whole, I enjoyed almost all of my classes. The combination of small class sizes and great teachers means that there aren’t many moments that I actively dislike. I want to give special thanks to Ms Schofield for some of the funniest and most enjoyable moments of my time at PAC.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2024?

Your ATAR is about choice – which universities accept you and what majors you can get into within those universities. Study to the amount of choice you want to have in your future. If you’re already set in a career path and know exactly what you’re going to do for the rest of your life, you don’t have to push yourself to get a perfect ATAR. But if you’re not sure – keeping in mind that people change as they mature – it’s always better to leave yourself with more options.

What were some academic highlights for you?

Getting an Academic Award for English in Year 7 as someone fairly new to the language. Keeping an A+ streak in Math Methods for 2 years. 12 Academic Awards and 2 Academic Honours.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2024?

In my opinion, everyone studies at their own pace and should adapt their learning style to match individual needs. Although every teacher incorporates a lot of textbook contents and examples within their lessons, it’s still crucial to scan through the textbook pages covered in that lesson to obtain a fuller understanding. Think about it, every teacher writes questions based on the syllabus and if you understand everything in those few textbook pages, you won’t encounter anything that you don’t know. Also, make sure to use all the resources available online such as the entire Stage 2 Chemistry course by Son Vu on YouTube which was very helpful when used as a summary before tests and the exam. Highschool-level content from every course has been made readily available online and any questions could be easily answered.

For most skills and application tasks preparation, review all the contents from textbooks and notes, while doing a few questions from each subtopic. Then sit a past paper under test conditions and you’ll know if you are ready. For all folio tasks, make sure to clarify contents with your teacher as much as possible and apply all of their feedback from the draft. Your draft should be completed and as polished as possible to make sure your teacher knows you are serious and want to do well. Lastly, make sure you cherish your last year of school and keep a good study-life balance. Remember ATAR is nothing more than a number that expires after two years, it is the memories and friends you make along the way that you’ll treasure for life. Good luck!

What are your ambitions?

Currently, I've applied for a double degree in Law and Commerce, as well as for Economics and Finance Banking, as my top two preferences at the University of Adelaide for the upcoming first semester. I plan to work over the break and continue with part-time employment once the university term starts. Once I've saved enough money, my goal is to plan a trip to Europe with my mates.

What were some academic highlights for you?

Throughout primary, middle, and parts of senior school, I found it challenging to stay focused during lessons and keep up the motivation for my schoolwork. I was never receiving the best marks in my classes throughout these years and often underperformed relative to what I was capable of. My parents and teachers played a crucial role in helping me recognise my academic potential, which in turn inspired me to take full advantage of the excellent opportunity I had at PAC. My keen interest in economics was ignited by Mr. Simpson's passionate approach to teaching and his eagerness to see me and his other students excel in the subject. He offered us every opportunity to extend our understanding as far as we were prepared to go, something that teachers at this college do so well. All of my teachers helped me get the best out of myself in their respective subjects and showed a genuine interest in my education which is something I will forever be grateful for.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2024?

My advice to the Year 12 cohort of 2024 is to diligently work towards the goals you set for yourself while making sure to enjoy the year. Reflecting on my time, I've created some of my fondest memories at school, like Intercol week, playing games in the common room, and school football, as well as activities outside of school such as going to friends' 18th birthdays, Valedictory celebrations, and much more. It's worth noting that these experiences are much more rewarding when you're on top of your studies and don't have to feel guilty about going out and having fun. Additionally, the teachers and staff at this college are incredibly dedicated to helping you, so don't be afraid to use their support to achieve your goals.

What are your post-secondary ambitions?

After school, I plan on hopefully obtaining my first job, and aspire to pursue a double degree in Mechanical Engineering and Computer and Mathematical Sciences at Adelaide University.

What were some academic highlights for you?

I was challenged when struggling with a severe illness, whilst also moving house, making it difficult to concentrate on my studies. Despite this, I stayed focused and ended up getting the best grade I had ever obtained all year, topping Specialist Maths. 

Another highlight of the year was my physics class, which my peers and I personally loved. I felt that I thrived under the tight bond that we all formed with Ms Schofield's teaching.

What advice would you give to the Year 12 cohort for 2024?

You're in school for a set amount of time, so you might as well try your hardest. I personally found that completing tasks and homework during free lessons allowed for greater rest and more time to participate in out of school activities.