Toowoomba school celebrate high score results despite 2020 hurdles
She was in a coma for three days after a devastating car accident when she was in year six, and now the dux of this local school will go on to fulfill a lifelong dream.
Toowoomba
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Mary Mackillop Catholic College’s 2020 school captain and inaugural senior Dux, Caitlin Lang, has plenty of reasons to rejoice after receiving an ATAR score of 98.35 and recently being accepted into the University of Queensland to complete a Doctor of Medicine.
Caitlin will commence her 7-year tertiary education journey with an undergraduate Bachelor of Biomedical Science while living on campus at Duchesne College, St Lucia.
Caitlin said she’s always been inspired by medical professionals following a serious car accident when she was in year six which resulted in her entering a coma for three days and having to undergo three major surgeries to repair her shattered leg.
“I think that’s what I started to realise just how special the medical profession is,” she said.
“The doctors in the Royal Children’s Hospital saved my life and I’d like to do the same for others one day.
Ms Lang said she’s always loved studying science and enjoyed the hands-on nature of biology, physics and chemistry.
“I’m passionate about helping people through the study of medicine so I’m extremely excited to start my degree at UQ,” she said.
“All of my teachers at Mary Mackillop have been supportive, but my biology teacher Mrs Rebecca Vichie became my mentor throughout the year. She helped me answer a lot of questions I had about university and studying medicine.
“My school co-captain, Connor McKerrow was also a great support and study buddy throughout the year and I’m glad we’re going to remain good friend throughout uni.”
With 2020 being far from the ideal year to finish high school, Ms Lang said she’s proud of her cohort for finishing the year on a high note and persevering through the uncertainty of home schooling.
“At one stage of the year I was genuinely worried that I’d have to re-sit year 12 altogether,” she said.
“But I think in the end we all managed to handle the five weeks of home schooling really well – although it felt like much longer than five weeks to me!”
Her advice to next year’s seniors preparing to battle the ATAR in 2021 is straightforward, but effective.
“Make a schedule and stick to it and keep putting your all into everything. The late nights are important even if the assessment is only worth 10 per cent, it might just be the 10 per cent that gets you over the line to achieve the score you need,” Caitlin said.
“At the end of the year all your hard work will have paid off.”
Caitlin only started at Mary MacKillop in year 11, but she said her mantra from day one was to say yes to everything and talk to everyone “because you never know what is going to push you in the right direction.”
Founded in 2003, Mary MacKillop Catholic College in Highfields is the youngest P-12 College in Toowoomba and the Diocese, and despite the setbacks of 2020, its first ever year 12 cohort have much to celebrate now.
With 100 per cent of the foundation cohort receiving a QCE and 50 per cent achieving an ATAR score above 90, all graduating students have secured a pathway to their future through university entry and the Australian Defence Force.
“As a College we are so very proud of our inaugural year 12 class,” College principal, Chris Gabbett said.
“Our priority over the past two years has been on creating a focused academic culture in the senior school and we have some really outstanding teachers who maintain it.
“These achievements will provide a positive example to all of our students as we continue to create a P-12 academic pathway.”
While the majority of the College’s students have opting to stay in Toowoomba to continue their education with USQ providing first round offers in areas including Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of General Studies, Daniel Verches is already excited at the worldwide travel prospects his degree will bring him.
“Receiving an offer to study a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane means I have the opportunity to major in electrical engineering,” he said.
“This will get me one step closer to my dream job as an engineer in Tokyo. I’ve always wanted to experience city life after completing school in Toowoomba,” Daniel said.
Meanwhile, Caitlin’s fellow 2020 college captain, Connor McKerrow has been accepted into a Bachelor of Engineering Science at the University of Southern Queensland and has been fortunate enough to be awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship for receiving an ATAR above 88.
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