THE field of science has caught the eye of Grant High School 2019 Dux Holly Baldock, who plans to leave the Limestone Coast next year to pursue tertiary study.
Ten students from the school achieved an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank greater than 90, with Ms Baldock topping the list at 97.85.
Now with a clear path into an advanced bachelor of science course, hoping to major in biochemistry, Ms Baldock said she felt a sense of relief when checking her results.
“I toured South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and it really made my decision, but I have always been interested,” she said.
“Biotechnology, which you can study through biochemistry, is one of the fastest growing careers in Australia at the moment.
“I am excited as I will also be involved in straight chemistry which I enjoy.”
Completing her research project last year, Ms Baldock studied chemistry, physics, English literary studies, math methods and specialist math during 2019.
“It was a surprise to receive four academic awards as well as the Emily Redding Memorial trophy and John Petkov Excellence in Mathematics for specialist math,” she said.
“For any Year 12, I would say to work as hard as you can and if you need help ask for it and do not be scared.
“Take it and run with any extra help you can and do things as soon as possible which I found useful studying five subjects instead of the four.”
Principal Fleur Roachock said she was proud of the high-achieving students, including Ms Baldock.
“The thing most admirable about Holly is that she has been head
down and tail up the whole year along.
“She has been forging ahead and has not let what anybody has been doing worry her.”
Ms Roachock said Ms Baldock had made fantastic use of her teachers.
“I am pleased to have made the correct decision when choosing who was awarded the literary studies academic award as it is always nerve-racking when it is a subjective thing,” she said.
Ms Roachock said she was pleased to see students doing well each year.
“We really continue to see the trend each year and have had many students who achieve high results in say the science and heavy math subjects,” she said.
“Children are continuing to want to study them, which is a sign of the great preparation coming from the lower year levels.
“Any young person who wants to do well will have the support from the great staff….the best I may have seen in 26 years.”
Ms Roachock said she urged parents and students to remain calm if an ATAR was not what was expected.
“It is a number and after today it becomes irrelevent, there are back doors into things if you do want to pursue a career in a specific field,” she said.
“A number does not define you, you need to make sure you are thinking about yourself as a decent human being and not fall into the hype around ATAR results.
“Things are changing in the space and we have to be ready for those changes.”
Ms Roachock looked forward to new beginnings in many subject fields next year and was excited to see what the cohort of 2020 would bring.
