Other than your academic success, are there any other big lessons, learnings or things that you are proud of over your time at Hume?
One of my achievements I'm most proud of is the PFA Citizenship Award, for what it recognised! Rather than being for a specific accomplishment or something academic, it was for all the small things I'd done along my school journey, such as fundraising in lunch times, taking on leadership positions and volunteering outside of school. The award really highlighted to me how, although each event seemed small and inconsequential, they added up to big changes. I loved how the School recognised the significance of these small acts, and choosing to be of service to others each and every day.

You were one of our school captains, which is a big commitment but were still able to achieve remarkable academic results. What advice do you have for other students who have passions and interests that require a lot of time and energy? How do you balance it?
Hobbies and passions aren't in replacement of study, they're a break from it, and those are really important to make sure that when you are studying, its effective and you're mentally ready to learn. They help maximise the efficiency of your studying, and so it’s important to make time for things you enjoy, whether that be sports, reading or gaming, as well as going out with friends and your family when you need it! During Year 12, I paused my major commitments and focused more on doing the activities that energised me and that I could join when I wanted to. For example, I volunteered in my community a lot less last year, but my mum and brother continued, so I was able to join them whenever I needed a break or there was a big event, so I could spend time with my friends there! Those more spontaneous outings worked quite well, as I could be more flexible and fit them around my schedule.

For leadership, you're in a team, so use it! As School Captains, we were all in Year 12 and so were ready to rely on each other. Whenever one of us was really busy, either with SACs or other commitments, the rest of us would take on some of their load since we were a bit freer, helping us balance everything. 

Can you give me an example of a study habit that really worked for you?
For content-based subjects, I found creating mind maps, and brain dumping all I knew about the topic I was revising, to be great. This helped get my thoughts down, organise the content and identify exactly what I knew. I would then read over my notes or check the textbook, and add what I missed, creating a full mind map that shows my strengths and weaknesses, and that helped a lot in checking my knowledge and planning my revision.

Creating a space to note all your mistakes, and what the correct answer was, is also really important for all subjects! Throughout the year, this could be by adding sidenotes or highlighting information you forgot in your notes based on your mistakes in practice questions or tests, making your notes more dynamic and making them the go-to place for that topic. In my exam revision, I noted down every question I got wrong for biology and chemistry, what the correct answer was at the back of my exercise book, and an explanation if needed, and I'd read through it before each practice exam. I found this really helped to ensure I didn't repeat the same mistakes, and so my practice scores kept increasing!

Do you have any advice for students picking their subjects? How did you choose your VCE subjects?
I picked the subjects I'd enjoy most. The ones I'd be happiest studying and revising for. I focused on science and maths subjects, as I found the content of the former fascinating, and so was excited to keep learning more in it, helping to motivate me to keep going throughout the year. I also found the maths subjects to be really satisfying and fun, and so they were a great break from all the writing in English and Science. My subjects aligned with my career path of medicine, but that doesn't always have to be the case! I think picking subjects that are interesting and exciting, even if they're in a different field to the career path you're looking at, is the way to go to keep you motivated, and to have some fun while studying! 

What’s next for you?
Academically, I hope to go into medicine and become a doctor. So far, I have my back-up option of Biomedicine at Melbourne University locked in, but direct medicine offers at Monash University come out soon, so I'm really excited for that! Outside of that, I've been getting back into my prior commitments, including being a part of my church's choir, and volunteering in my community's Saturday School to teach about our culture, history, and faith. It has been incredibly fun returning to my passions and interests full-time, and I'm looking to keep these a priority moving into 2025 and university life!