High hopes for the future

Our Class of 2020 will be pursuing further study in an incredibly diverse range of fields, from Information Technology to business and commerce. Mia Roux and Grace Danielson, two of our College duces, have both received university scholarships and will pursue careers in medicine and law, respectively. Here, they share their future plans and how they managed the demands of Year 12.

In January, Class of 2020 graduates received their offers for university places. The academic success of our students will enable them to pursue further study in their first-choice degrees, across a diverse range of fields. A quarter of the cohort will go onto further study in STEM-related disciplines, and careers in this high growth area, with business and commerce another area of high interest from the cohort.

Mia Roux, one of the Wesley College duces, achieved an ATAR of 99.95 and has been offered a University of Melbourne Chancellor’s Scholarship. She intends to study a Bachelor of Science, and medicine as a post graduate degree, and looks forward to new experiences at university which will help her decide where to specialise.

Mia’s interest in STEM subjects such as Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics have set her up well for her further studies, and she notes that the coeducational environment at Wesley had a part to play too. ‘Coeducational learning helped me develop important skills in communication, especially in getting my voice and opinions heard in male-dominated STEM fields,’ she says.

‘My cocurricular life at Wesley has been just as, if not more, important than the academic opportunities. It was the athletics and cross country program that initially attracted my family to the school. Under the guidance of amazing coaches such as Tim O’Shaughnessy, these programs offered me a chance to learn teamwork, leadership, and persistence.’ Mia adds. ‘Both the academic and athletic support offered by Wesley meant that even whilst completing the International Baccalaureate, I had the opportunity to compete at a national level. Alongside my plans to study medicine, I hope to continue my involvement in the sport and compete internationally in the coming years.’

Despite the unusual circumstances of remote learning in Year 12, Mia continued with her cocurricular interests and found running and catching up with friends on walks or in a Netflix Party to be a good stress reliever. ‘I was lucky to have an amazing group of friends who were equally determined and hard-working. Throughout Year 12 we motivated each other and helped one another and I think we all benefited from it,’ she says. ‘In addition, I’ve always had very good relationships with my teachers and was never afraid to approach them for help or guidance.’

Teachers were an essential resource for Grace Danielson, one of the College duces, as well. ‘One of the most helpful experiences I can remember was when my Literature teacher encouraged us all to book times with her outside classes to go through essays or provide feedback on our writing,’ Grace says. ‘It turned out to be one of the main ways I progressed within the class.’

She encourages future Year 12 students to seek feedback from teachers. ‘The best way to improve is to ask your teachers for feedback,’ she suggests.

Grace, who achieved an ATAR of 99.95, was actively involved in many areas of the College. ‘Since Year 7, I have had opportunities to participate in many of the school’s cocurricular programs, including APS sport, musical ensembles, Wesley’s debating program and theatre productions with the St Kilda Road Campus’ Adamson Theatre Company,’ she says. ‘Many of the fondest memories I have from Wesley were made whilst partaking in a cocurricular activity.’

Though the lockdown in 2020 made it difficult to rehearse with some of her music ensembles, especially where 150 members are usually involved, she found that being involved in cocurricular commitments throughout her time at school helped her to be better organised and was a good way to prepare for the demands of Year 12.

In the future, Grace plans to return to her birthplace of Fu Ling in Chong Qing province in China. An adopted twin, Grace has not had the chance to return her birth town yet, but has been studying Mandarin for six years at Wesley. ‘I hope it will aid me as a cultural bridge between my Australian background and Chinese roots when I return to birth country in the future.’

This year, she’ll commence a double degree at ANU, where she has been awarded the National University Scholarship to study a double degree Bachelor of Law (Honours) and Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE). ‘I loved IB’s optional unit on political philosophy and inspired me to apply for ANU’s PPE program due to its unparalleled opportunities for international relations and politics in our nation’s capital. I was ecstatic with my grade and decided to combine my guaranteed entry into PPE with a Bachelor of Law.’

Though remote learning in 2020 was an unusual way to experience Year 12, Matthew Hobbs learned a lot about himself as a learner. ‘I learnt that I work well independently. I was better able to focus on the aspects of each course that I felt most needed my attention,’ he explains. ‘I refined my study habits, limiting procrastination and found ways to motivate myself with both macro and micro goals. During SWOTVAC in particular, I woke up and went to sleep at the same time every day, to create a sense of routine and ensure I was getting at least eight hours’ sleep. I managed my workload by focusing on efficiency.’

In what can be a stressful year for most students, Matthew found balance by spending time with family, friends and his church youth group and engaging in sports he loved. A domestic and representative basketball player, Matthew says that sport and games (whichever were possible during the various periods of lockdown) gave him breaks from study and an opportunity to socialise and helped him maintain a positive outlook.

Matthew’s fantastic result of 99.95 means he is able to study engineering and commerce at Monash University this year, but it is also just one signifier of his many achievements.

As he tells the Class of 2021: ‘Just strive to do your best in everything that you do. Set your own personal goals and then work hard to achieve them. Other people’s goals and achievements are their own, and making comparisons is counterproductive. I learnt from my experience that hard work and the knowledge that you have done your best is ultimately more gratifying than the final results.’

As our Class of 2020 move on to the next stage of their lives, commencing university degrees and part time jobs, their ability to meet the challenges of the past year head-on is a good sign for their bright futures.