Pictures: JOCELYN NICKELS
COMPLETING subjects beyond her year level and always excelling in anything she puts her mind to, it is no surprise Tenison Woods College Year 12 graduate Laura Gazzard received the highest ATAR score in Mount Gambier yesterday.
Skipping Year 7 mathematics and completing two of her Year 12 subjects in Year 11, the potential future medical professional was thrilled yesterday to see her dreams of becoming a pediatrician could very well become a reality with an ATAR of 98.75.
“I was so excited to see my score and as soon as I opened my bedroom door after reading it my parents rushed in to congratulate me,” she said.
Studying physics, chemistry, biology, English and research project this year, plus mathematics studies and specialist mathematics last year, it has not been an easy journey for the recent graduate with a heavy workload and demanding subjects.
“I just tried not to think about the ATAR because when you do, you lose focus on what you are doing at the time,” Ms Gazzard said.
“Handling things week to week is the best way to go about it, otherwise it will drive you nuts.”
Already accepted to do medicine in Hobart and with applications for Melbourne and Adelaide, Ms Gazzard said she was looking forward to some new adventures and experiences after her gap year.
“At the moment I am thinking more Melbourne than Adelaide because I want to explore new things and Adelaide is quite similar to Mount Gambier,” she said.
“Medicine has always been something in the background that has interested me, it has a lot of components that I enjoy and something I would be challenged in.
“I am currently working as a swim instructor, I love working with kids so to put my love for science together with that and work in pediatrics would be great.”
After she also received the merit award for English, Ms Gazzard’s mother Jenni O’Toole said she was incredibly proud of her daughter.
“We have never had to force her to do her school work, she has been such a dedicated student, smarter than her mum and dad that’s for sure,” she said.
“It was very exciting this morning, we heard Laura on the phone to her principal and as soon as she hung up we burst into the room and were jumping up and down.
“I am so proud, she has worked extremely hard throughout the year.”
