Pictured: Principal Mark Ashmore and 2023 Dux, Hardu Ginoya
On behalf of our community, I congratulate our 2023 Dux, Hardu Ginoya who achieved an outstanding ATAR of 99.75, putting him in the top 0.2% of all Year 12 students in the state.
Hardu achieved a perfect study score of 50 in General Mathematics, 49 in Chemistry, 47 in English, 41 in Italian and 40 in Mathematical Methods. Hardu intends to study Medicine at Monash University or Dentistry at The University of Melbourne
I spoke to Hardu about how he remained focused in his senior years, and the key people in his life who provided him with support and guidance. I also had the opportunity to hear Hardu share his plans for the future.
Mark Ashmore
Principal
Can you explain what motivated you to achieve excellence?
My main form of motivation came from my desire to challenge myself and push myself to discover what I am capable of, even if it initially felt impossible. I wanted to prove that I can meet and surpass expectations and not to underestimate my capabilities. I aimed for the highest score possible as it enables me a greater variety of options for my career and future.
Now that results are out, what are your plans?
For the rest of the holidays I plan to simply relax and enjoy my time off with friends and family, as well as working. Having seen my results I am hopeful that I will be able to gain entry into my desired university courses, either Medicine at Monash University, or Science/Dental Surgery at The University of Melbourne.
With exceptional results come a variety of options. How will these opportunities help you arrive at your overall future goal?
With my results there are certainly many options for me moving forward. With my desire to study and work in the healthcare field, there will certainly be many challenges throughout the journey. However, I feel that with the skills I have developed in actually attaining my scores, I will be able to overcome any obstacles and ultimately achieve my goals through hard work.
How would you explain yourself in four words?
Organised, persistent, considerate, cooperative.
How have your teachers helped guide you and keep you focused during Year 12?
The teachers at school have always made themselves available even during their personal time in order to assist my learning, whether it be extra help during SWOTVAC or going through my practice material during recess/lunch or even after school. This motivated me to concentrate on my studies as I knew I could easily find help whenever it was required.
What role has courage and determination played in helping you to achieve your goals?
Courage and determination have been key contributors to my success as there were many times where it all seems too difficult, with multiple SACs in 1 week or challenges in grasping complex concepts. It was only through my continued determination that I was able to successfully make it through these crucial periods, which consequently enabled me to achieve these scores.
What have your Salesian relationships taught you?
I have learnt that the ability to work with others is extremely valuable, and whilst VCE is a competition, maintaining relationships with friends and learning from each other is far more significant.
What three points of advice for students that you would like to share?
- Complete work promptly by removing distractions to avoid procrastination.
- Ensure you reward hard work with breaks and time on hobbies and other activities to avoid burnout.
- Maximise your time with friends at school as it’s the final year you get to see each other every single day.
How did you balance academic excellence with other aspects of your College experience, such as extracurricular activities?
I ensured that whilst I prioritised my studies, I didn’t block out everything else in my life, dedicating time towards my friends and family. It was the breaks from the studies that actually ended up allowing me to prevent burnout and create a balance.