OPINION: OP1 or not, you can still be successful

IT’S about this time of year every year when you might find yourself wishing you were 17 again.

Liam Brandish and Campbell Owbridge of St Edmund's College and Man Kit Lam of Bremer State High School all received OP1 rankings following their Year 12 studies. . Picture: David Nielsen

IT'S about this time of year every year when you might find yourself wishing you were 17 again.

School's out forever, the OP results are coming in the mail (or should I say on the internet) and a world of opportunity and wonder awaits.

December is a fantastic time to be a young person just out of school, especially if you were one of the good ones that worked hard and achieved something close to your potential.

Sadly, I can't put myself in that class, but in Ipswich we are lucky to have no shortage of students from all walks who have managed to overcome all the distractions of modern life and knuckle down during the last couple of years of their life at school.

I have to tip my hat to these young people who manage to achieve an OP1.

As many of us would concede, it takes more than just a sharp mind to achieve such an honour. What it also takes is discipline, dedication and a fair dose of sacrifice. Asking these three attributes of anyone in that Year 11-12 age bracket is tough; after all, there are many parties to go to.

For some young people, just getting through Year 12 is a great effort. There is more than one way to achieve success in the world, and getting the highest possible score and going straight to university isn't for everyone.

Well done and best of luck to the class of 2015.