Published in The Ararat Advocate, Ararat's weekly newspaper published by West Vic News Pty Ltd.
MARIAN College’s 2020 Dux, Bridget McGuckian, has walked away with an ATAR of 98.4 to open-up her path into medicine.
The 18-year-old has spent hours at her desk last year to achieve the result that now allows her to pursue almost any course of her choosing.
Miss McGuckian said it hasn’t been easy but that in some ways, lockdown gave her no option but to study.
“As much as it's been really challenging, it was also a grounding year where you got to remember what was important and value the time that you did get to spend with your friends at school,” she said.
“It was very hard because I love coming to school and just saying 'hello' to people. It's been a lot of study and no social time, but I feel like that was the same for everyone.
“I had no idea how it would work and I think it's amazing that everyone made it work.”
Miss McGuckian went into year 12 having already completed unit 3-4 Biology and PE, studying Maths Methods, Chemistry, Physics and English in 2020.
“My favorite subject was physics. It was just so interesting, and the class was great. We were constantly learning stuff that just blew my mind,” she said.
“[My family] was going to be happy with whatever I got but they were really excited for me. I feel like they were more excited than I was because they were probably more stressed.
“It's a good score, I'm happy. And now I can just sort of relax and enjoy summer.”
The dux won’t be relaxing for too long, hoping to score a spot at Monash University in Melbourne or at Queensland University to study medicine.
“I really want to do indigenous medicine, trying to increase the treatment options for Indigenous Australians and make it more culturally appropriate,” she said.
Her advice to the Class of 2021, “look at doing less study, but make sure that all the time that you do study, it's quality thinking instead of just sitting at your desk.”
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