ALUMNI NEWS

Julie Elkin

Ourschool Alumni Program Coordinator

This term has seen Haisong Qi (2023) return to chat with both Yr 11 Biology students and the cohort of International Students we have attending NGSC. Haisong was the dux of 2023, achieving an ATAR score of 99.7. He is now studying a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne. He also received a Hansen Scholarship to live on campus. He spoke with both groups about study techniques and preparing for SAC tasks.

Haisong emphasised the importance of having a schedule to follow but also noted that it did need to have some flexibility. He also made the point that study needed to be specific – it was not beneficial to simply write ‘study biology’. It needed to be ‘study Chapter 1 and be able to recall the important terms’ – much more specific and including success criteria that could be ‘ticked off’.

Haisong talked with the International Students over lunch of party pies, sausage rolls, spring rolls and chicken nuggets! He reiterated the need for specific study, rather than certain hours of study. Once again, he noted how important it is to talk with your teachers, ask questions and practice recalling terms, facts and methods.

When Haisong was asked by me ‘what did you want to do in high school?’ he answered, ‘to do my best and to be a better person every day’. It was a pleasure to listen to Haisong speak about how he aimed to fulfil these goals. Thank you!