Wolf Young thriving despite ‘kick in the face’ ATAR

Wolf Young was devastated by his ATAR score. Now, he’s proving success isn’t built on one number.

Ahead of ATAR results, Wolf Young wants to show students that a number on a paper does not determine future success. Picture: Alison Wynd

Ahead of Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) results being released on Thursday, one Norlane man wants to show students that a number on a paper does not determine future success – something he wishes someone had told him.

Wolf Young always did well at school.

The North Geelong Secondary College alumnus said he enjoyed it and never had an issue with assignments or marks.

That was until results day.

“It felt like a kick in the face,” he said.

In 2022, he opened his ATAR text message to see his score was 48.

Mr Young, 20, said he was flooded with confusion, shame and disappointment.

“I felt like all my years of education had gone down the drain, even though I didn’t feel I’d wasted them,” he said.

“And it didn’t reflect my capabilities.

“I got good grades, never had issues and I wasn’t bad at doing assignments or work.”

But Mr Young said the worst of it was feeling like all his career prospects had been pulled out from under him.

“It felt powerless,” he said.

“It felt just like so many opportunities were taken away from you based on this one number.
“To feel like my options were limited … I felt lost.”

After ATAR day, Mr Young said he felt lost so he took a gap year, trying out jobs and internships to see what he enjoyed.

“In high school it feels like your whole world,” he said.

“In the real world it’s not how it is at all – you have tools that you can use and skill sets that can’t be tested, like public speaking and creativity.

“And I thrive in things that you can’t do in an exam.”

During that gap year he said he was accepted into a Youth Digital Traineeship at the Geelong Gallery.

“I realised, ‘I actually really enjoy doing this’,” he said.

“It was creative enough for me.”

“I was so glad I took the time to figure it out.”

From there, Mr Young successfully applied for a Bachelor of Digital and Social Media at the Australian College of the Arts (Collarts).

“I submitted previous work that I’d done, not a meaningless number,” he said.

He said now he would tell Year 12 students to look beyond their ATARs, and train practically.

“There is a lot of stigma around alternative pathways, but it’s completely fine to take your time,” he said.

“If you’re going to be doing this for the rest of your life you might as well make sure it’s something you love.”

Collarts chief executive Sam Jacob said creative skills in particular faced a disadvantage through the ATAR system, but would be the key to success in the modern workforce.

“There are so many variations of intelligence and talent,” they said.

“These students work so hard in that final year of school and that’s what we should be emphasising, the effort.”

Originally published as Wolf Young thriving despite ‘kick in the face’ ATAR