It feels weird to be standing up here today giving the Dux speech as that was not something I really considered possible when I started in Year 7, listening to the Dux of 2016 talk. I believed you had to be a genius, a brainiac, or exceptionally bright. The stereotype that academic success comes from being ‘naturally smart’ at the hardest subjects like physics, chemistry and specialist maths is in stark contrast to the journey I have taken to be here today. My focus in Year 12 was not to be the Dux of the school, but to work extremely hard in the subjects that I have a genuine interest in so that I could walk away at the end of the year knowing I had put in my all, no matter my results.

I have always prioritised putting in a little extra effort towards assessments and preparing for tests to ensure I was setting myself up to achieve a mark that I was proud of. I would do this discretely however, as I was embarrassed to be called a ‘try hard’ or a ‘sweat’ by those around me. What my peers didn’t realise was by achieving good marks in the junior school, I set myself up for success in the senior school, something they would later regret. At the end of semester one in Year 9, the school will look at your average mark for your core subjects and if it’s above a B+, you have the opportunity to do an accelerated Year 12 subject in Year 11.

I undertook 3/4 Psychology in Year 11 which taught me so much about the expectations and demands of a Year 12 subject and the amount of hard work that is required to achieve a high study score. So, to the junior school and the new Year 9s of 2023, your journey to VCE is closer than you think and putting in the work now can really set you up for success in the senior school.

As someone who really enjoys socialising with friends and playing sport, I dreaded the thought of putting this on hold for a year to focus on school. What I discovered is doing the things you love can be so easily balanced with studying. Whether it’s going to your friend’s 18th party, playing footy on a Sunday, working twice a week, taking Friday nights off studying to see your boyfriend, having your own 18th birthday party, going surfing in South Australia, spending the entire two weeks of the school holidays in Bali, or all of the above in my case, Year 12 does not need to hold you back from your social life. Without the balance of these activities to clear my mind from upcoming SACs and exams, I would have become consumed and overwhelmed with stress.

In saying this, there are numerous times throughout the year when it is important to take a step back from all the fun and to prioritise studying. If it meant spending the entire weekend at my desk, getting a good night sleep or taking two months off work when exams came around, I always made sure I could walk confidently into any SAC or exam knowing I had put in the work. Finding your own balance between your hobbies and studying is crucial for your own success in VCE.

While Year 12 can seem daunting, there are so many amazing resources, teachers and students who want to help you along the way. Choosing to work collaboratively with other like-minded peers is a great way to learn from each other and to stay motivated. Learning to work with your teachers, not against them, opens a huge support network to help you achieve the best results you can. There are after school tutoring sessions, a quiet place to study in the library until 5:30pm and lots of lunchtime hours that your teachers are willing to give up to help make your journey so much easier. Be resourceful and take advantage of the help that our teachers willingly provide.

Lastly, I would like to thank all the staff who have not only taught me during my time at Padua but made a difference in my journey. Thank you to my wonderful Year 12 teachers: Mrs Paf, Mrs Castelli, Mr Murray, Mr Tainch, and Mrs Tibbals, as well as Mr Dick, Mrs Brick, Mrs Lewis and Mrs Hyland. Special thanks to my mum for her unconditional support (and her contribution to my English assignments) and to my dad for always pushing me to study harder. The only way to reach the score you’re aiming for is to work hard for it. No matter your subjects, if you challenge yourself to do your personal best, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve. And of course, it’s okay to have a little bit of fun along the way.