Outside interests contribute to success
Schools
Making time for sports and hobbies and the extra support from family and friends were among the keys to success for the outstanding Year 12 students from Catholic schools last year.
In recognising the achievements of the Class of 2018, The Southern Cross asked the dux and proxime accessit of each Catholic college in the Adelaide Archdiocese to provide some words of wisdom for the students entering Year 12 this year.
Besides the obvious answers of not leaving assignments until the last minute and making sure to revise subject material throughout the year, many suggested that it was participating in extracurricular activities – such as sports, music or even part time work – that really helped them succeed. The significant role played by friends and family was also highlighted.
Josie Rositano, joint proxime accessit of Mercedes College said it was important to “always share worries, achievements and challenges” with family and friends. “Your support networks truly impact your performance and wellbeing during Year 12,” she said.
Jackson Livori, dux of St Paul’s College said good time management and sport were factors in his success. “Soccer consumed much of my time in Year 12 as I played for club and school, as well as spending some time helping to coach younger teams in the college. I would definitely recommend for any new Year 12 student to do something that isn’t related to schoolwork to relieve stress, such as sport, music or other recreational activities.”
Nicholas Centofanti, proxime accessit from Gleeson College, said although Year 12 was a “tough year” he got through it by taking one assignment at a time, recharging with friends, family and exercising, and being involved in extracurricular activities such as choirs and musicals.
Loreto College dux Carla Evangelista, who received four SACE merits, said while her commitment to sport aerobics during the year was “challenging at times”, it provided a “much needed escape” from the stress and pressure of Year 12.
Information released by SACE revealed that 232 students from Catholic colleges received a total of 279 merits. Jesse Kennedy, dux of Sacred Heart College was the only other student to receive four merits.
Students studying the International Baccalaureate at Mercedes College also achieved outstanding results.
Dux Isabelle de Savi was the only IB student in the State to receive the perfect score of 45 points, equating to the highest possible ATAR of 99.95. This included merits in all her subjects – English A HL, Indonesian B SL (completed in 2017), Economics HL, Biology SL, Chemistry HL and Mathematical Studies SL. A total of 42 merits (maximum grade of 7) were gained by the IB Diploma students.
With secondary schooling behind them, the 2018 graduates are now heading in several different directions this year.
Like many of her peers, Lucy Eaton, dux of St Aloysius College, is taking a gap year and planning to travel. She will tour Europe with her mother, before staying on for six months to work as an au pair for a family in Monza, Italy.
Others are staying closer to home and will begin university studies next month, with medicine, medical imaging, law, design, arts and engineering being some of the popular courses.
Dux of St Dominic’s Priory College Minh-Chau Le is one of the many hoping to study medicine. “My other goals for this year include being more involved in community outreach and volunteering programs, travelling to different parts of the world, learning another language and spending more time with my friends and family,” she said.
Six students from Catholic colleges were named recipients of Governor of SA commendations which recognise not only excellence in SACE subjects but also in the qualities young people need for community life, citizenship and work. They were: Tristan Camilleri (Sacred Heart College), Danielle Cooke (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College), Sebastian Ricci (St Ignatius College), Tara Rossetto (Loreto College), Bridie Squire (St Aloysius College) and Isaac Turner (Cardijn College).
These awards and merits will be presented at an official ceremony at Government House on Tuesday February 5.
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