High Achievers Assembly

Abel’s Dux Speech

Good morning staff, students, parents, and the greater Kildare community.

It fills me with great pride and honour to be standing here today as the Dux of Kildare 2019. Within the last 13 years I’ve been blessed with the unwavering support of my teachers and peers to which I would like to express my sincerest gratitude and thanks. It is thanks to this combined effort that I’m able to stand here today. I would also like to congratulate the class of 2019 for their tremendous efforts in the HSC and the remarkable results that they have achieved. The HSC is an arduous journey― a marathon as you may have heard― and to be able to reach the finish line is no easy feat. 

Even now, the odd feeling of completing the HSC lingers. I remember leaving this very hall after having completed my last exam, only to be met with feelings of anticlimax. It was almost as if I felt there was more work to do, that my journey had yet to end. But it had ended. And perhaps I had just not come to the realisation of it ending. After all, you spend years in preparation and thought for the HSC and before you know it, it all comes to an abrupt end. It was almost disappointing. However, as I look back at those two final years― the myriad of class lessons, hours upon hours of study at the resource centre, I can look forward without any regrets, knowing that what I put into the HSC was my absolute best. To me, that is the ultimate triumph.

There is always that feeling of ‘I could have done better’ or ‘If only I had done just a bit more work’, however, I’d be doing myself, my peers, and teachers a disservice by saying that. And so, if there is one thing I would like to get across in this speech, it would be this: avoid those feelings with a fervent consciousness. At times you may fall short of your goals. You may lose motivation, make mistakes, or fall into a slump. In these times, it is our defiant persistence and willingness to acknowledge our deficits that will ultimately drive our success. It is the Kildare mindset― that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts that rings true during these times. Be aware of this team mentality and understand it.

Standing here today as Dux does not mean I didn’t struggle with the HSC. In fact, this is hardly true. I myself was met with my own adversities and stress, much like anyone else throughout my schooling journey. It was my ability to learn from these times of trouble, to translate these hardships into solutions that stoked the flames and kept the engine running when I needed it to. We encounter difficulties and very often we dismiss them as misfortune. While some cases really are unavoidable, what isn’t is the decision to recover and continue the struggle forwards. An undying persistence and enthusiasm is the key to success.

It goes without saying the tremendous efforts of those who have supported me during my time at Kildare.

Thank you to my friends, who have made these last 6 years the most worthwhile and rewarding times of my life. 

Thank you to my family, who have provided for me every last modicum of love and support for which I’m eternally grateful for.

Thank you to my teachers throughout my years of schooling at Kildare who have been nothing short of dedicated. It fills me with great comfort knowing I was kept in good hands throughout my time here.

Thank you Ms Hale for your incredible work and dedication towards the arts at Kildare, as well as continuous support for my own musical interests.

Thank you Ms Savage for your bright and enthusiastic approach to religion, as well as the cupcakes and snacks you brought in on Wednesday afternoons.

Thank you Mr Robinson for your perpetually positive demeanor and eagerness to teach physics, as well as the time you dedicate outside school hours to support our learning.

Thank you Mr Sharrock and Ms Gaiter for the most entertaining chemistry lessons I’ve ever had. I’ll always remember Mr Sharrock’s preferred method of disposing of dead bodies― not with acids, but bases.

Thank you Ms Rainbird and Mr Taylor. Your enthusiasm for mathematics is contagious, and I thank you sincerely for cultivating my own passion and love for mathematics.

Thank you Mr Quinn for always challenging me and pushing me towards even greater heights. Your sarcasm and wit will be forever memorable.

Now while I do feel as if I have gained some wisdom over the course of the HSC, it is mainly with reference to the HSC itself. Fortunately, I’m providing this wisdom free of charge to the current year 12s.

The hardest parts of the HSC are not the final exams. In fact, they’re far from it. It’s the struggles and effort that you must apply over the course of 2 years that the HSC’s difficulty is renowned for. Pace yourself. Understand that consistency is key. Seek feedback incessantly, and more importantly, act on it. The HSC is a team game, so build up strong connections with your fellow peers.

Embrace your fears and insecurities. As Tim Winton says, “Being afraid proves you’re alive and awake”. Every instance you downplay your natural instincts of fear and stress you lose sight of what it means to be an HSC student. Stress is natural, so learn to manage it as opposed to fighting it. Save your energy for the real challenges ahead.

Your teachers know what needs to be done and what needs to be taught. They get paid for it. I cannot stress enough how important it is to build relationships with your teachers. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”

While I’ve never really liked the phrase “The HSC is not the end of the world”, the fact that I stand here today with the rest of my cohort is living proof of that. While the HSC isn’t the end of the world, understand that it is still an important stage of growth and discovery. Most importantly, cherish your time and memories. The flow of time only gets faster and faster. 

As I reach the end of my speech, I would like to leave behind a final message that applies to all, regardless of whether you’re sitting the HSC, or have just joined Kildare for the first time. Struggles and failure hurt because we dwell o