The Gold Coast’s highest achievers, the 2021 School Duxes share their tips and tricks and advice
The highest-achieving students from the Coast’s class of ‘21 are setting lofty career goals after being named duxes – and they’re sharing their tips with younger students. WHAT THEY SAID
Education
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From doctors and psychologists to vets and engineers, the Gold Coast class of 2021 are setting high career goals after being named their school dux this week.
The Gold Coast Secondary Principals’ Alliance and Gold Coast Bulletin have spoken to 16 high-achieving students about their next steps and advice for the incoming Year 12s.
Tonmoy Hossain
ATAR Dux – Benowa State High School
What will you be studying? Bachelor of Actuarial Science with an academic excellence scholarship.
At which university? Bond University.
Why did you choose to study this? Mathematics is one of the subjects I found the most enjoyable at school. The creative ways that answers for complex questions could be reached was fascinating. I believe that becoming an actuary will result in a similar experience but by making an impact in the business world. Actuaries are in high demand and it provides a good work-life balance, which makes it a desirable profession to get into.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? My teachers always tried to help me the best they could in my endeavours of achieving a high ATAR. My time at Benowa State High School was enjoyable and the skills I have learnt will prove to be useful for my chosen career.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? My main advice for the incoming Year 12s would be to use your teachers and the resources you have effectively and manage your time well. Try your best to become a trailblazer. I know from experience that it is never too late to achieve great results, so always aim for the highest regardless of your current position. Finally, having a good support system around you for staying motivated is crucial. In my case, this was my family.
Brooklyn-Javier Donaghy
IB Dux – Benowa State High School
What will you be studying? Medicine.
At which university? Cambridge University, UK.
Maegan Palmer
Coombabah State High School
What will you be studying? Studying Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours).
At which university? University of Queensland.
Why did you choose to study this? I have always loved the company of animals and the power that bond of trust is. Working and growing up around animals I never liked feeling helpless in response to their pain and in doing this course I hope to never feel helpless again. I have always dreamt of working in wildlife conservation and this is just one step closer to doing so.
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How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? Coombabah has helped me explore my options, whether that be through excursions to local universities or by talking to teachers about different career paths. I’ve also had an opportunity to be a part of many extracurriculars that have helped my chances at gaining scholarships to universities.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? Work your hardest on those internal assessments and take advantage of all the help teachers provide. Don’t let the 50 per cent exams scare you, they can’t ask you everything (do as many practice exam questions as you can). Explore your options early, look at what you are passionate about and see what courses help get you there so that you have a goal to work towards. Get as many references and certificates for extracurriculars to help you get scholarships because tertiary education costs heaps. Most importantly, enjoy your last year.
Tabitha Bird
Elanora State High School
What will you be studying? Bachelor of Engineering with Honours.
At which university? University of Queensland.
Why did you choose to study this? I love physics and chemistry and it sounds really interesting.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? Yes, it totally did.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You can only do what you do, and that is enough.
Amanda Woo
Helensvale State High School
What will you be studying? Bachelor of Physiotherapy.
At which university? Griffith University.
Why did you choose to study this? I definitely enjoyed biology more than other science subjects and physiotherapists are doing a very meaningful job by helping patients to rehabilitate.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? The school gave me a lot of helpful and beneficial advice that led me to deeply think about what I wanted to do. Also, I could consider more courses that I didn’t know about, as the school invited a number of the best universities in Queensland for the benefit of students.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? If I could repeat Year 12, I would not procrastinate and do my assignments at the last minute. Also, understanding is very important for STEM subjects, especially for math. Please don’t think that you can get high marks by simply memorising things. Ask questions to teachers and understand why things happen.
Peter Hanson
Merrimac State High School
What will you be studying? Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Computer Science.
At which university? Griffith University.
Why did you choose to study this? It aligns with my aspirations of working within environmental engineering.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? Being a part of the STEAM Academy gave me many opportunities to learn and develop my passion for science and math.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? Take time to study and pursue your passions.
Andrew Noble
Nerang State High School
What will you be studying? Bachelor of Biomedical Science.
At which university? Griffith University.
Why did you choose to study this? I am looking forward to learning about the human body and how it works – I would like to become a doctor or researcher.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? Teachers prepared me well for assessment and taught me how to study effectively. Mock exams prepared me for external exams and teachers offered tutoring which was beneficial.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? Don’t procrastinate, always ask for help, talk to teachers if you don’t understand something. Talk to someone if you are having issues with your mental health, always be open to teachers and friends. Attend tutorials. But most of all make time for yourself!
Chloe Entriken
Ormeau Woods State High School
What will you be studying? A Bachelor of Advanced Science with Honours.
At which university? University of Queensland.
Why did you choose to study this? Because I’m interested in science.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? I did chemistry and biology and had great teachers.
Kezia Siby
Pacific Pines State High School
What will you be studying? Bachelor of Paramedicine.
At which university? Griffith University.
Why did you choose to study this? Ever since I was little, I have been passionate about becoming a doctor or going into some career that helps people holistically. Paramedicine is a fantastic stepping stone to reach that goal since it combines both the theoretical and hands-on learning that will prepare me for my future.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? It’s all thanks to school that I even knew about this pathway into medicine. Through talking to the career advisers, I learned a long time in advance all the pathways I could take and what courses I should apply for. I was also provided with all the information on how to apply, what the key dates were, what subjects I should take, what my current goals should be etc to achieve my dream. The career officers also provided me with various information about universities to help me decide which one would be the most suitable for me. Furthermore, they gave me great advice, support and motivation at times when I thought it was too difficult or I was discouraged towards achieving my goals.
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Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s?
Hey, Year 12s! Here is some advice that helped me in Year 12. Firstly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You have so many amazing teachers, classmates, online resources, past students etc, that want to see you succeed and are always happy to lend a hand to make that happen. Seek out help wherever you can; you don’t have to do it all alone. Secondly, dream big dreams and work hard to achieve them. Take all the opportunities that are presented to you or that you find. It’s impossible until someone does it and makes it possible. Be that someone. No matter what it is, go out there and make it happen. There are no limitations, it’s only the mind that can be limiting. Finally, take care of yourself and others. Prioritise your mental, physical, social and spiritual well-being. Do the things you love, and that makes you happy. Don’t isolate yourself or believe there is no time to do something. Make your legacy, make your mark, make your memories. Have fun, you got this!
Kai Meath
Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School
What will you be studying? Medical Science.
At which university? Griffith University.
Why did you choose to study this? Initially, I wasn’t quite sure what degree to choose. I enjoyed the math and science classes in high school, and I had a pretty good attitude toward my studies, so I’ve decided to give medicine a go.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? The academic excellence program at PBC was quite competitive, and I think that the competition had fostered a strong work ethic within myself and my peers. I hope that this drive will help me achieve my goals in the future.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? I think that helping your peers will definitely make life easier going through grade 12. It’s because firstly, explaining concepts to others really solidifies all that knowledge in your head, and secondly, Year 12 can get quite stressful, and I think it’s really important to help each other out to overcome these hurdles. In my opinion, it’s just a win-win because everyone will benefit from a positive and supportive environment.
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Hayley Seath
Pimpama State Secondary College
What will you be studying? Bachelor of Psychology (Honours).
At which university? Griffith University.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? Set yourself some goals and stick to them. If you aim at nothing, you will hit nothing.
Garlok Lu
Queensland Academies Health Sciences Campus
What will you be studying? Bachelor of Biomedical Science/Doctor of Medicine.
At which university? University of Queensland.
Why did you choose to study this? This degree provides the experience, education, and opportunities to explore the different disciplines of Australian healthcare. From medical research to practising in a hospital, B-BMED provides the knowledge and freedom to pursue a variety of graduate courses in healthcare.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? The Queensland Academies Health Sciences Campus (QAHS) has prepared me for my chosen career path by offering a myriad of academic and non-academic opportunities. Academic extra-curricular such as Silver and Gold Crest with CSIRO, the Microsoft AI for Good challenge and the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) Summer camp equipped me with invaluable research experience as well as an abundant depth of knowledge. Meanwhile, being a student representative in the school council, participating in the QAHS Future Health Leaders program, and building QAHS’ first competitive volleyball team developed my teamwork, persistence and leadership; qualities that are necessary beyond the scope of a career in healthcare.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? Study hard, ask for help when you’re unsure, and don’t compare yourself to others. You get what you put in and, no matter your result, be proud knowing you tried your best.
Cody Dumka
Robina State High School
What will you be studying? Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
At which university? The University of Queensland.
Why did you choose to study this? Engineering is very closely linked with technology. The allure of being able to apply physics and overcome daily challenges in a practical setting is what drew me to this course.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? Robina State High School was a great school and never short of experience opportunities. With supportive staff and peers, the school environment was both motivating and challenging. It has prepared me for anything 2022 will surely throw at me.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? I made up my mind that I was going to give 100% to my study. The teachers were brilliant and supported us every step of the way. I found a close friend to study with, and we were always trying to outdo each other. We managed to have a lot of fun and embrace all the other fun things school had to offer. He will be a mate for life. We both agree, we couldn’t have studied any harder. That’s a really good feeling!
Emma Nipperess
Southport State High School
What will you be studying? Bachelor of Computer Science/Masters of Data Science.
At which university? University of Queensland.
Why did you choose to study this? I like math and computers.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? By employing good teachers.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? Listen in class.
Lana Hunter
Tamborine Mountain State High School
What will you be studying? Bachelor of Biomedical Science.
At which university? Griffith University.
Why did you choose to study this? I have always been interested in science and this course lays a great foundation for further study and career options.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? I found my teachers to be very supportive and helpful, as well as passionate about their subjects, which in turn helped me to stay focused, maintain my interest, and always strive to do my best.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? Don’t be afraid to ask questions and try to get enough sleep.
Jayde Keijer
Varsity College
What will you be studying? Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics (Honours).
At which university? The University of Queensland.
Why did you choose to study this? My favourite subjects in school were economics and mathematics. Combining my passion for these topics and love for a fast-paced and challenging industry got me excited about studying finance. I chose the honours program at UQ because the university has a fantastic reputation and in hopes that the degree will set me up with the skills and mental capacity to succeed in such a challenging and competitive environment like finance.
How do you think your school has prepared you for your chosen career path? My teachers at Varsity College not only helped me find my passion for finance by highlighting my strengths, but were also dedicated to helping students such as myself succeed. The effort that they put into organising content and answering my questions, fuelled my effort to achieve the ATAR I needed. Learning from such approachable and encouraging people definitely helped me gain the skills and knowledge that I can take with me throughout university and as I progress into the finance industry.
Any advice for this year’s incoming Year 12s? Use the resources available to you. Ask your teachers questions. Complete as many past external exam papers as you can to alleviate unfamiliarity. Surround yourself with another student who has a similar ATAR goal as you to motivate each other. Make your syllabus your best friend – those dot points are quite often the formula to exams and study notes. And as a side note, put in 100 per cent effort 100 per cent of the time and set an ATAR goal right from the get go. Internal marks count too.
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