Kilvonian Profile - Charlotte Westaway

Charlotte Westaway, dux of 2023

Congratulations to Charlotte Westaway who is the Kilvington Grammar dux for 2023.  

Charlotte achieved an ATAR of 99.85 and a perfect score of 50 in French language. She has been awarded the Premier's VCE Award for a perfect score in French, and the prestigious Melbourne University Sidney Myer Centennial Scholarship, providing Charlotte with full HECS fee remission for her Bachelor of Commerce degree, and Diploma of Languages, before undertaking the Melbourne JD (law) degree. Charlotte also plans to study overseas during her degree as part of Melbourne Uni’s global exchange program.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where and what are you currently studying?

I’m undertaking a Bachelor of Commerce and Diploma in Languages at the University of Melbourne. So far, I’m loving my course and the independence that comes with university life - whether it’s grabbing a coffee before class, delving deeper into my interests, interacting with new people or simply having more spare time each day! It’s a surreal experience to have complete control over my week and academic load.

What was the biggest highlight of your time at Kilvington?

The time I spent with my peers and the camaraderie that we shared was my overall highlight at Kilvington. School camps, in particular, held a special place in my heart as a yearly highlight. I always thoroughly enjoyed the physical and team challenges, regardless of weather conditions! I also have fond memories of my time as Fysh Captain. I appreciated the unique opportunity it gave me to collaborate and connect with fellow students across many year levels; and in my last year, seeing the House come together to achieve collective success was so rewarding!

What do you think enabled you to achieve such a great result at school?

Without a doubt, the unwavering support I received from my teachers was pivotal to my VCE results. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been guided by such empathetic, passionate and knowledgeable staff, especially in Years 11 and 12. Their constructive feedback, invaluable advice and camaraderie enabled me to achieve marks that far exceeded my expectations. This experience has undoubtedly left a lasting imprint on my educational journey.

What did you find most challenging and how did you deal with this?

Burnout was my absolute foe. In the throes of the mid-year SAC pile-up and exam period, it was difficult to summon enough motivation to maintain momentum. To counteract this, I resorted to activities that didn’t require much energy and gave me time to mentally reset when I was overwhelmed with fatigue. A 4.00pm nap, exercise, or an episode (or three) of Gossip Girl and Suits were my saviours.

Do you have any advice for students studying their VCE?

Try to avoid constantly comparing your SAC results, workload, and the number of practice exams completed with your classmates. VCE is a mix of individual and collective experiences, so while you can celebrate the highs and support each other during the lows, it’s essential to understand your personal limits and set realistic expectations to avoid undue pressure. More is not necessarily better (unless your teachers suggest otherwise). Most importantly, allow yourself to have fun and make the most of those ‘lasts’ while you can!