Deniliquin High School’s graduating Year 12 class of 2024 have all but completed their high schooling careers.
They have finished exams and had their graduation, the only thing left for these young people to do is wait for their HSC results, their university offers and to step out into the world and chase their dreams - whatever they may be.
I spoke to a couple of the graduating students, and it was clear that, for the most part, students were relieved to have finished and be done with school for a bit.
Finishing Year 12, doing your HSC and obtaining an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) score is a long and arduous process, with plenty of time spent studying, worrying and trying to keep a balance in your own life.
The final exam in NSW was held on November 8.
“It was a huge relief,” said Ben Baker, who finished his final exam on November 5.
“It’s good to have a bit of free time after starting. Academic processes took up a bit of my time, its really quite freeing.”
Ben is also still applying for universities, and hopes to study medicine.
“Well I am still applying for unis, still waiting on the ATAR to come in on December 18.
“I have applied for medicine at both James Cook in Cairns and Western Sydney Uni.”
One thing Ben looks forward to most about leaving school is getting out in the real world, the freedom and specific learning he is going to get to do.
“It is really exciting to be able to grow into your own adult self, being able to go to uni and do what you want to do in terms of study,” he said.
“Being able to pursue my dream of medicine, as opposed to doing a general bit of every subject, is really exciting.”
But as much as a high school student is looking to get out of the place and onto other ventures, there is always the lingering feeling of what you may miss.
Being split from friends due to relocating for work or studies, lost or restricted contact due to commitments and things simply getting in the way as it goes in life.
“It was quite a positive and supportive community at Deni High,” Ben said.
“I loved interacting with teachers and students.
“I am definitely going to miss a lot of friends I had there, but we will stay in contact.”
For Abbey Lawson, a theme consistent with Ben also was the relationships built, with staff and students alike.
“The teachers and my friends are something I’ll miss the most,” she said.
“I know I’ve struggled a bit not seeing everyone every day already.
“My teachers have been great through relationships I’ve been able to build.”
Abbey has her plans pretty well set out, and has already put some into action.
She intends to take a gap year in 2025 to work, which she has already started, and save some money before relocating to Wagga Wagga.
There she plans to study agricultural science.
Abbey was offered early entry to her course.
She said having that time between finishing school and starting university will be beneficial.
“I’m just enjoying life. You're kind of tied down when you have school five days a week.
“My time’s a little more flexible with what I can do now.
“It feels good. Now I can start planning the future and don’t have to worry about school.”
Brooke Jervis is another who has her studies and post high school life pretty well sorted.
“I’ll be going to uni at CSU (Charles Sturt University) in Wagga,” she said.
“I’ll be studying animal science, and got early entry, but I’m hoping to get directly into veterinary.
“I am just really looking forward to doing what I love and getting the job I want, and helping people.
“But I would say after seeing all my friends all the time, as well as the teachers, who have been a big help, to not see them will be hard.”
Irrespective of what each graduate has decided to do, they have been given the best platform to begin from thanks to the staff at DHS.
Evident by comments from graduates, they have fostered healthy working relationships and given students the best opportunity to succeed.
We wish all in the graduating class of 2024 all the very best in their future endeavours, whether it’s in a tertiary education setting, a workplace or even travel and time off.