The last six weeks has been a nail biting period for Great Lakes Year 12 students as they anxiously wait for their HSC and ATAR results following yet another challenging year of uncertainty and disruption.
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It was a mixture of excitement and some relief when students Matt Delahunty, Grace Atkinson and Luke Maher learned of their results last week.
Dux and distinguished achiever, Grace earned a 99 ATAR, all-rounder and fellow distinguished achiever, Matt achieved, 98.65, while top achiever, Luke received 97.15.
"I expected to do well, but not that well," Grace said.
Grace has already mapped out her future, but said that could change.
After a gap year she plans to journey south to study biomedical science at Melbourne University.
"I have always liked Melbourne as a choice; it is vibrant and new," she said.
Medicine was a consideration at one stage, however Grace confessed she didn't think she could stomach the 'blood and gore'.
Grace said she found at-home lessons difficult during the first lock-down in 2020.
"I didn't have a study schedule, but last year I put my head down got a schedule and focussed."
Believed to be the only all-rounder in the school directorate, Matt plans to take a gap year before heading to Newcastle University to study advanced maths.
"At the moment my goal is to become a mathematician. I have enjoyed it (maths) my whole life; it is my favourite.
"I see patterns in everyday life and it is satisfying when you go through a problem and get an answer in the end."
For a public school it proves our teachers do have the expertise to teach students of this calibre and support them achieve these outstanding results.
- Great Lakes College Senior Campus principal, Davina Bowen
Following a Year 11 in relative isolation Matt spent more time socialising and having 'fun' during Year 12.
Luke, who admitted his ATAR came as a happy surprise, will be leaving for Wollongong University next month to study a Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation and a Bachelor of Creative Arts.
The former, a relatively new program uniquely offered at just three universities in the country, focuses on the study of great works of the western tradition of thought and art, Luke said.
"This degree is my primary reason for studying at UOW, and getting into it has been a motivating goal to work towards."
He was also successful in receiving a prestigious Ramsay Scholarship.
"I'm happy that I was able to achieve that level (ATAR) because it proves that you can achieve high within humanity subjects, since my pattern of study was comprised of English, history and languages entirely."
He attributed much of his success to good old fashion hard work during the online learning period in Year 11, "which, I believe, trained me to be autonomous in my learning and efficient with my studying."
Great Lakes College Senior Campus principal, Davina Bowen was understandably delighted and proud of the students' successes.
"For a public school it proves our teachers do have the expertise to teach students of this calibre and support them achieve these outstanding results," she said.
"And, it shows students thinking about coming here they do not have to go to an independent school to achieve top results."
Both Grace and Matt echoed Ms Bowen's comments.
They are fantastic teachers, Grace said, while Matt gave a shout-out to his maths and science teachers.
He said Great Lakes teachers gave equal attention to both the high achievers and students who were not doing so well in a subject.
"They love what they do and love the subjects."
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