This year John Therry Catholic College experienced great success with HSC achievement among their Aboriginal students.

Twenty Aboriginal students graduated, which is 18.3% of the cohort! Many of our students have now been accepted into university to study medicine, law, nursing and teaching, with some also attending TAFE to become tradies. Well done class of 2022!

Dux 2022 Speech

Tameka Thorne

 

Good Morning teachers, students, parents and esteemed guests.

Thank you for joining us here today in celebration of the high achievers of 2022. First and foremost, I’d like to begin by saying what a pleasure it is to be back. I am truly honored to be representing the class of 2022 as the College Dux.​​ There were many deserving candidates from my cohort and to be quite frank, never in a million years would I have imagined myself standing before you all today.

I have never been an outstanding student and I am in no way “naturally” smart. To prove this, how about I let you all in one of my deepest, darkest secrets. In Year 8, I got an E on an assignment that I genuinely tried on! Safe to say, I’ve hated Geography ever since. You’re probably wondering how on earth I, of all people, became Dux? Let me tell you, I did not change overnight and my journey to where I am today was no easy feat.

In Years 7 to 10, I was the epitome of an average student. I did my assignments; however, the concept of homework was foreign to me. I listened in class; however, my version of listening was talking to my friends unless the teacher was looking. You see, school for me was just a place I HAD to attend, nothing more, nothing less. However, there was one defining moment that changed it all…Year 10 English.  For some reason unbeknownst to myself, I was placed in the point 1 English, dubbed the “smart kids” class. I was asked if I could present awards at the end-of-year assembly. I said ‘yes’ but standing on that stage, I had never felt more foolish in my life. I distinctly remember passing out an award to virtually everyone in my class, EVERYONE. It was humiliating; however, it humbled me. It made me realise that my classmates were not naturally smarter than me as I once presumed, they just worked harder – a lot harder. I decided that next year I would be on stage, receiving the awards rather than handing them out and eventually, I achieved this goal.

However, as much as I wish it was, it is not that simple. I didn’t miraculously become a genius as I hoped I would. Humans are always evolving based on an accumulation of failures and successes, both of which I became well acquainted with.  Growth for me came through setting myself clear goals, having the mental strength to push forward and using failure as motivation to improve. As an individual who began high school obtaining mostly Cs, trust me when I tell you, all it takes is hard work and, most importantly, ambition. In the wise words of Walt Disney, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”

I know that I couldn’t have reached this position without the immense support I received along the way. As such I would like to firstly thank my cohort who made Year 12 somewhat bearable. From lunchtime drama in junior years to experiencing the wrath of COVID and remote learning together, we have all grown substantially. I wish you all the best for the future and I’m certain you will all do great things.

To my close friends, I couldn’t have found better people to surround myself with. I’ll forever cherish our heated games of Uno and mafia, our study sessions, where we did more laughing than actual study, and most importantly, just being able to interact with you all almost everyday of every week. I think we all underestimated how little time we had left together. Thank you.

To my family, my number one supporters, who kept me grounded and motivated everyday, there are no words to express my gratitude. I am lucky to have parents that are willing to support me in all my endeavours, whether that be through listening to me read my essays aloud, or driving me to Campbelltown library at absurd hours. For providing me with the opportunity of a quality education and for unconditionally supporting me both financially and emotionally, thank you.

I would like to give a very special thanks to Aunty Cherylle. You have created a safe space for Indigenous students at John Therry and I couldn’t be more grateful than to go to a school where my culture is so embraced. For allowing me the opportunity to connect with culture and for consistently being there to support both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students alike, I thank you sincerely.

Next I’d like to express my gratitude to my teachers who provided unconditional support to both me and my peers. Your efforts did not go unnoticed.

Ms Adams, your use of coloured texters and unparalleled penmanship was like watching live ASMR. For being the most organised of all my teachers and ensuring that SOR was my least stressful subject, thank you.

Mr Jewo, contrary to what you might believe, I actually really enjoyed Maths. For your patience and willingness to go to homework club even when not a single person from our class would, thank you.

Mrs Hume, your selflessness and willingness to go above and beyond for me and any of your students is truly inspirational. I promise to carry your life lessons regarding the importance of positivity and motivation into the future. Thank you.

Mrs Donaldson, I always appreciated your unparalleled drawing skills, crazy life stories and enthusiasm every lesson. I will forever have polypeptide synthesis etched into my brain. Thank you.

Mr Golebewski, the walking encyclopedia! You truly are a character. With your loud personality there was never a boring Modern History lesson. You made learning fun. Thank you.

Mrs Robinson, I once had a very strong dislike for English; however, you somehow converted me. For sparking my love for writing quality essays, you may have single handedly saved my ATAR and for that I will forever be grateful. Thank You.

To any teachers that I did not mention, Mr Holmes, Mr Connor, Mr Peters, to name a few. For your copious support and guidance during this arduous journey, I could not be more grateful. Thank you.

Although I did reach my goal of a 91 ATAR with the help of those around me, the HSC was no walk in the park. As a person who struggles to concentrate I can be very inefficient with my time. The reality of this is that for every three hours I spent “studying”, a quarter was spent doing work, whilst the other three quarters were occupied by my horrendous attempts at singing and drawing. This I do not recommend! My biggest advice for the current Year 12s is to learn from my mistakes. Be efficient with your time, form good study habits and as contradictory as it sounds, don’t take the HSC too seriously, and by that I mean, don’t let it consume your life. Whilst yes, your ATAR is important, it’s merely a numerical value that only holds importance for a very VERY small portion of your life. There is no point quitting TV series in fear of binge watching or having nightmares about an exam or getting up at 4 a.m. on the day of an exam to study or even becoming so overwhelmed that you shed a couple tears. Definitely not speaking from personal experience AT ALL. In all seriousness, your health and sanity should always take precedence. Make sure to get at least seven hours of sleep, drink plenty of water, exercise, socialise, and if you dare, maybe even watch a TV series. Year 12,  a formidable and rewarding experience awaits you. Cherish the fleeting time you have left together, don’t be afraid to seek guidance from your teachers, have fun and hopefully your tears will be happy tears. Good luck.

Finally, I’ve had my fair share of inspirational quotes thrown at me, however there are two particular sayings that guided me through the HSC and continue to guide me in life beyond. Today I would like to share these with you before I leave in hopes that I can inspire you to implement these messages within your own lives.

The first saying was from my primary school principal Mr Hughes, who said: “Opportunity and growth comes through placing yourself in uncomfortable situations.”  Through this, Mr Hughes taught me that despite being introverted and at times shy, that I should always aim to carry myself with a degree of confidence and pride. He taught me that there is no need to fear the unknown, that it is only when you are willing to leave your comfort zone and place yourself in uncomfortable situations where you refuse to become stagnant, instead allowing yourself the opportunity to achieve success.

The second quote is from my mother. From a young age she has always repeated to me, “Tameka, as long as you tried your personal best…” I’m aware that this may sound simple at plain sight, however it is this simple message that motivates me in all aspects of my life. To reflect on whether or not you tried your best is truly a humbling experience, as you’ll come to realise that it is extremely difficult to lie to yourself. Only YOU can know if you tried your personal best and although at times your personal best may not be good enough, it is failure that allows new directions for growth. Whether that be in academics, sports, a new job, please, do not be afraid to try because I am telling you all right now your personal best is far beyond what you think you are capable of.

This year I will be starting at the University of Wollongong, studying a Bachelor of Pre-Medicine, Science and Health, with the intention to graduate and enter into the Doctor of Medicine. In my pursuit to become a doctor I solemnly swear that I will embrace the uncomfortable and to always try my personal best. I highly encourage you all to do the same, dream big, believe in yourself and I’m sure success will follow.

Thank you for listening and have a blessed day.

Tameka Thorne.

Story submitted by Cherrylle Nau of John Therry Catholic College. Published in 2022.