Beyond Wesley - Celebrating the success of our Class of 2024
Class of 2024 Scholars and Duces
Congratulations to our Class of 2024 Scholars and Duces who were honoured at a special assembly last week:
ST KILDA ROAD CAMPUS | GLEN WAVERLEY CAMPUS |
Walter Powell Scholars Hannah Manne (VCE Dux of the School) Emily Walsh (IB DP Dux of the School) General Excellence Scholars George Teague (VCE) Harshvir Singh (IB DP) Alexander Wawn Scholar Lillian Rebelo Alison Arnold Award Eleni Gerostamoulos Draper Scholars Magnus (Year 11, VCE) Samuel (Year 11, IB DP) | Walter Powell Scholars Dominic Wang (VCE Dux of School) Joseph Chen (IB DP Dux of the School) General Excellence Scholars Emma Platt (VCE) Nick Liang (IB DP) Zi Yu Song (IB DP) Alexander Wawn Scholar Aislinn Jansen Lance Pilgrim Family Scholar Forrest Lo Draper Scholars Jade (Year 11, VCE) Kirwan (Year 11, IB DP) |
We are immensely proud to celebrate the incredible achievements of our 2024 graduates. Their dedication and perseverance throughout their final years of schooling have truly paid off.
An outstanding 100% of university applicants received a first-round offer, with 56% of students accepting offers from the University of Melbourne and Monash University. An impressive 21% of students are embarking on a double degree, 22% undertaking studies in Business and Commerce, 17% in the sciences and 16% in the arts.
Our graduates’ aspirations are not confined to Australia, with four applying to study in the USA and nine in the UK. Many Class of 2024 graduates have already accepted offers, including former boarder Dominic Wang who will study Engineering at New College, University of Oxford, Joseph Chen who will study Mathematics at Jesus College, University of Cambridge and Caitlin Woods who has attained a rowing scholarship to the University of Michigan and will study Business Management.
Five graduates are moving into full-time employment, either directly or via an apprenticeship. Another four are taking a GAP year to travel or pursue other interests, while a few others are chasing their sporting dreams.
Learn more about our students’ tertiary destinations and fields of study.
Student reflections
A few of our graduates returned to the College to share their experiences and offer advice and key learnings to current students.
Nick Liang, IB DP, Glen Waverley Campus
‘Walking through the school today, a wave of memories returned… I remember starting in Year 7 as a curious, yet slightly intimidated, student. But the drive to explore, to embrace challenges and uncertainty, led me on a journey I’ll never forget.
But my defining moments weren’t in the classroom. While I had great times in lessons, my most powerful memories come from opportunities beyond them... picking up the violin which led to a magical experience performing a concerto at the Winter Concert, and founding the Chess Club which created a thriving community that still runs strong today.
Some of you might think: “I’m not smart enough for success”. But success isn’t just about intelligence. It’s about mindset and what I call the 3 Ps: pursuit, perseverance, and passion.
Success doesn’t come to those who wait - it comes to those who chase it and setting goals is one of the best ways to do this. I encourage you to think about your dream career or university course and set that as your overarching goal. Then, break it into smaller, achievable targets that keep you driven.
The road to success is never smooth. There will be setbacks, mistakes and moments where you want to give up. But we all have a choice to make – to succumb to a challenge or push forward, learn from failure and get back up as a new and improved version of yourself. There’s always light at the end of the tunnel.
If you don’t enjoy the process, success becomes a gruelling grind. It’s love and happiness that makes all the difference. That’s why choosing subjects you genuinely enjoy and doing things you love is so important – not just in school, but at university, work and in life. Passion fuels motivation, prevents burnout, and makes the journey worthwhile.
Life is like a game of chess. Every move is a choice. Our decisions shape the game. Mistakes happen, but we learn, adapt and make better moves. Success, whatever it means to you, requires strategy, planning, perseverance and resolve.
I hope to pursue a degree in medicine at Monash University, and work towards being a medical practitioner in the future. My question to you today is: What is your next move? How are you going to win this game?’
Hannah Manne, VCE Dux, St Kilda Road Campus
‘When I was a student watching this assembly, I remember thinking. “Wow, that’s impressive, but it will never be me.” Because of this, I started year 12 filled with self-doubt. But I want you to know that you’re much more capable than you think you are, so don’t let this hold you back.
While your teachers and family can encourage and support you, the effort and work ultimately has to come from you. That’s why understanding what truly motivates you is essential. I had one goal that pushed me the entire year… and it wasn’t a number. My goal was simple - to walk out of every sac and exam knowing that I gave it my all.
It doesn’t need to be complicated. Focus on the basics. Listen in class. Ask your teacher if you don’t understand a concept and do the work that has been set. Trust me, if you start here, the rest will start falling into place.
Unfortunately, there’s no perfect formula to navigating stress, but here are a few ways I tackled it:
- Write it down - what you’re worried about, what you need to get done and when. This will give you a logical place to start.
- Take a break - go for a walk or chat to a friend, whatever helps to clear your mind.
- Be honest with yourself - try to pinpoint what’s worrying you and start there.
- Ask for help – your teachers have taught many Year 12s and have lots of advice
- Keep doing what makes you happy – sport, music, whatever it may be. But be intentional with your time. It’s not an all or nothing scenario.
My success in Year 12 came from starting the year off strong. Use your current motivation and energy to establish good habits that will ultimately become part of your daily routine, even when your motivation is low. I know it feels like a lot right now, but the best thing you can do is make a start.
Finally, enjoy your final year at school. Yes, there’s a lot of pressure, but try your best to see it as an opportunity to prove to yourself how much you’re capable of. And always remember that all anyone can ever ask of you is that you do your best - and that looks different for everyone.
Emily Walsh, IB DP Dux, St Kilda Road Campus
‘This time last year, I was sitting exactly where you are now, looking up at the Year 12 Duces, wondering how they survived and to be honest, I really didn’t think I would be standing up here today. Even now, after finishing Year 12, I don’t have all the answers, but I want to share a few things that helped me along the way.
First, there is no magic or single formula for success. One of the hardest parts of Year 12 is resisting the urge to compare yourself to everyone else. What helped shift my focus away from comparison was being clear on my own goals.
Whether it’s an academic achievement, a milestone on the sporting field, landing a dream role with the Adamson Theatre Company or excelling in music or the arts – you get to write your own narrative. Setting personal goals will create a driving force that is uniquely yours - one that will guide your journey and lead you to where you want to be.
The next step is using your time effectively. I actively worked on this throughout Year 12, and I found organisational tools helped me stay on top of everything. There will always be unexpected setbacks, last-minute changes and burn-out along the way. If things don’t go as planned, adjust and refocus. Progress comes from consistency, not perfection.
One of the biggest challenges of managing a heavy workload is the stress that comes with it, so you need to find strategies that work for you. I found writing down tasks and tackling them one step at a time made a big difference. Overthinking won’t get the work done, but taking action will. It also helps to surround yourself with supportive, like-minded friends so you can keep each other motivated.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the teachers and staff at Wesley College for creating a community that empowers every student to thrive. Their support and dedication make all the difference in shaping our journeys.
As you navigate your own path, trust yourself. Be intentional. And most importantly, take a step back every now and then to appreciate how far you’ve come. Your journey is unique - enjoy it, embrace it, and make it your own.’
