Good Morning everyone, 

Firstly, thank you to the teachers, staff, and my family for their constant support over the past few years. And congratulations to my fellow award winners today. I recognise the work and effort you’ve put in to get here, and you should be very proud of yourselves. 

One of the biggest things I've learned about studying is that enjoyment matters a lot more than you think. We often focus on making study as ‘efficient’ as possible, but if you hate every minute of it, you won’t do it consistently. Listening to music while studying may have reduced the effectiveness of individual sessions slightly, but it made the process far more enjoyable — and because of that, I studied more overall. I also found that explaining concepts to friends or family - not that my sister always appreciated it - was one of the most effective ways to learn, not only because it forced me to really understand the content, but because it made studying more interactive and fun. Personally, I never found rigid study schedules or planners particularly useful. Studying when I had time made it feel less like a chore and more like something I chose to do. However, I did need to be mindful of the time available to me and tried to make the most of my class time so that I could do less at home. 

For Year 11 and 12 students wanting to do well in VCE, the biggest practical piece of advice I can give is to finish the content early and start practice exams as soon as possible. Textbooks are good for learning the content, but the only way to do well on exams is to do as many practice exams beforehand. Now, a brief word on AI. Despite the stigma around AI, when used properly it can be an incredibly useful tool. Like the Internet, getting it to do your work for you is obviously wrong, but using it to explain concepts or help break down questions can be invaluable.  I found it useful for further explaining science concepts. 

The most important advice I can give is that success is not built on motivation alone. Motivation fades. What matters is putting in the work when you don’t feel like it, which - lets be honest - is probably pretty often. There is also no harm in aiming to be the best. We’re often encouraged to simply “be our best,” but that can quietly lower expectations. Don’t lower your standards. High expectations are difficult to maintain, but they are what drives improvement. As American Football coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” 

The reality is that VCE is a competition — you are competing with your peers — but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be a nice person. Helping others is the right thing to do. And it almost always helps you at the same time. While comparison can sometimes lead to stress or anxiety, it can also be a powerful source of motivation, and friendly competition is usually mutually beneficial. Realistically, comparison is also just a part of life. Learning how to manage it at school is an important, and necessary skill for the future, especially when navigating the workplace. 

Finally, throughout schooling, and especially during VCE, don’t be afraid to keep activities outside of school. During Year 12, I kept up my part time job, playing basketball, and going to the gym. While it was physically tiring at times, it gave my mind a break from school and helped me stay balanced. I

If you want to do well in school, don't make excuses about not being naturally inclined and don’t blame your teachers. Put in the hard work and you will get results. 

Be disciplined, aim high, enjoy the process where you can, and don’t forget there’s more to life than a study score. Take advantage of all that this College has to offer - whether that be academic, sporting, musical or practical life skills. 

Congratulations to all my peers and thank you Padua College, for giving me a supportive learning environment.