2014 College Dux

Harry Holbrook attained an ATAR of 97.95 and is our College Dux for 2014. Below is his speech which he shared at the Academic Assembly yesterday.

Good Morning Staff, Students, Distinguished Guests, Family and Friends,

It is a great honour to be standing before you today as the Dux of the Class of 2014. I’d like to begin by acknowledging and congratulating the other high achievers. I know that you all worked very hard to gain a place at this assembly, and your success is well deserved.

From the beginning, I viewed the HSC as an opportunity to get myself to where I wanted to be after school. I set myself a very ambitious goal - to study law at the University of New South Wales. UNSW boasts one of the best law schools in the world, and gaining entry is extremely competitive. Needless to say, many said it was impossible, and even I doubted my ability several times along the way.

But, in the HSC and life, a little self belief, some hard work and a lot of coffee goes a long way to overcoming the obstacles that you will inevitably face. Obstacles like stress, failed maths trial exams, the negativity of others, and of course, the distraction of endless hours of Breaking Bad. In just a few weeks I will begin classes at UNSW, which in itself is somewhat frightening.

The HSC is not about working hard every waking moment of the day. Instead, it’s about working hard when it counts. You can and should still go to parties, stay up late, sleep in, go out with friends, and have fun. But when it gets to crunch time, you have got to work hard and do absolutely everything you can to reach your dreams.

There will be late nights, lunch times spent with teachers, holidays full of essay writing, and afternoons of practice maths exams. But, there will also be laughter, hot chips, lollies, and of course, that indescribable feeling of success at the end of it all , but only if you work hard enough.

With that said, I’d like to thank some of the teachers who were instrumental to my success. Finally after all those years of receiving reports from my teachers, I now get to write their report.

Mr Hill, your friendly and affable nature made maths an absolute joy. Thank you for always pushing me to achieve more, and of course, to always go back and fix the silly mistakes I made. I must apologise for the fact that I will never touch a maths textbook again, even after being your student for most of my 6 years in high school.

Miss Fisher, you demonstrated a constant belief in my ability that was rarely shown by others. You pushed me in my weakest subject, English, and it paid off. Thank you for all your hard work, marking draft after draft, helping me to perfect my writing.

Ms Fraser, your depth of knowledge and passion for English is contagious. Your support not only made the subject easier, but enjoyable, and for that I am truly grateful.

Mrs Graham, for a year I sat 4 hour long classes on a Thursday night at TAFE. Your bright personality ensured that I always loved Legal Studies, and is part of the reason why I have decided to pursue law. Thank you for all the hard work that you put in both in and outside the classroom.

Mr Gyles, Extension would have been a nightmare if it wasn’t for the laughs that we shared. Thank you for sharing your love of maths with me, and for giving me one important lesson all year - that the most important thing to take into an exam is confidence.

Mr Buik, your knowledge of Business Studies was a great help to me. You always had an interesting example to help explain something from the course. Thank you for giving your time to help me succeed.

Ms Savage, Mr Bailey, and Mrs Bright, thank you for all your support in taking on the Studies of Religion HSC Course in Year 11. Your many presentations, tutorials, and sample responses proved essential to understanding the course, and then conveying that knowledge in the exam.

Last, but certainly not least, Mr Carroll, my home group teacher and IT teacher, who is absent today. Mr Carroll provided a smiling face and wise words each and every morning of high school, and is someone that I respect immensely. My time at high school would not have been what it was had it not been for his constant presence in my daily life.

I’d also like to thank Mr Miller for his role in growing this school and providing encouragement to myself throughout the HSC. I wish him all the best for his new role.

This school has many incredible teachers who want to see you succeed. Wherever possible, work alongside them. They know what it takes for you to do well, so listen to them.

Thank you to my family for their encouragement and support throughout high school, and for shaping me and providing me with an environment to learn and study, both at home and at this school.

I would also like to thank my friends, especially those who I shared classes with, for pushing me, working with me, and at times, competing against me. A special mention goes to Dom, who endured Extension 2 Maths with me, and Tom, who managed to make my free periods productive as we worked together.

If I had to give any advice to the students sitting before me it would be this - set a goal that excites you and drives you. An ambitious goal will motivate you to overcome any obstacle that stands in your way. More than anything though, ignore what people say about your dreams and just believe in your ability. Work hard with your teachers, work hard with other students, and most of all, do your best. After all, that is all you can do.

Finally, I’d like to add that a high quality education is an incredible opportunity. Around the world, many don’t have access to an education at all, so it is your responsibility to make the most of it. As Malala Yousafazai said “There are many problems, but I think there is a solution to all these problems; it's just one, and it's education.”

Harry Holbrook

2014 College Dux