BSSC Year 12 student, Ashlyn Wood, says that if she had been invited to have a Student Profile this time last year, she would have refused.
“But, after 18 months at BSSC, I have become so much more confident and responsible for myself. I’ve built up my speaking skills, been to NYSF, accessed the free tutorials—mainly in maths and chemistry—and I love being able to choose how and when I study.
“I recommend this place because it sets you up so well for uni and the free tutoring is amazing.”
Ashlyn describes BSSC as a place with many opportunities, great facilities, and where students can build strong relationships with teachers.
She plans to study science or biomedicine at Monash or Melbourne Uni.
“I’ve just had a meeting with Careers and Pathways and that’s helped me be clearer about a few of the other options I have too.
“I can imagine myself working in research,” she says, “perhaps in the immunology field because when I was at NYSF in January I met people working in this field and it was so interesting.”
As Ashlyn discovered, NYSF (National Youth Science Forum) is a remarkable program. Supported by Rotary, it brings passionate students from across Australia together for a 10-day immersion in all things science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Students who attend come away with new friends and a real sense of the incredible study and career possibilities on offer. Ashlyn was no exception, but also named expanding her friendship group as one of the highlights of NYSF.
For all the positives of senior, the realities of the workload in VCE are a challenge for virtually everyone. However, Ashlyn is dealing with a particularly interesting challenge.
“My mum’s a teacher so I grew up with insight about a teacher’s role. But, because I’d always got good grades without much study, I arrived at BSSC not very aware of what worked best for me.”
Now, halfway through Year 12, Ashlyn’s not only been on a steep learning curve regarding course content, she’s also fine-tuned her understanding of how to get subject information to stick in her brain.
This is such important preparation for someone with a commitment to the kind of courses she’s aiming for.
Last year she put up posters in the loo to help her learn 3/4 Biology content. (While her family thought it was weird, they no doubt learnt all kinds of fascinating biology facts!)
This year she’s expanded her insight about what works for her.
“I’ve found setting a time limit on the study session, using review questions or exercises—such as the ones we’re assigned in class—and revisiting class PowerPoints, works well. I see my teacher when I get stuck.”
Ashlyn recently set up a whiteboard in her room.
“It’s been a game changer and real motivator. I can see what I have to work on, and I use it to outline summaries or work through challenging questions.”
De-stress strategies include using a planner and making a list as soon as she gets home from school. This short-circuits the feeling she has a mountain of work to do and stops the overwhelm that, paradoxically, is the root of a temptation towards procrastination.
“The planner allows me to realise the workload’s never as much as I feared—which is great for de-stressing.”
Playing tennis with her mum, going for a walk, and a love of crocheting all make downtime enjoyable. She has played tennis for years and is now coaching the little newbies as her part-time job.
For all the miserable things about Covid, there were some good things to come out of it—including Ashlyn’s interest in crochet.
Op shops have been a great source of wool, and she’s presently making herself a jumper and recently crocheted a fabulous fat chicken for a friend.
Ashlyn’s mum moved out of teaching mid-career into to what initially seemed a completely different role, only to find her teaching skills have been a huge bonus.
“This really impresses me, because I’m sure it would have been easier to just stay with what she knew. She’s also really organised and sets me a great example of how to take on change or challenges. I love how she stays determined and passionate about what she wants.”
Ashlyn has never been a big fan of change or disruption. Even the thought of finishing school feels daunting. The rising cost of living concerns her and makes her wonder if some of her dreams of travel and home ownership may be difficult to achieve.
“I think it’s about the uncertainty of the future, which is unavoidable, but also the sense that our generation may not have the same opportunities as our parents.”
Balancing this out is her gratitude to her parents, and quite a few good teachers, for all their support and encouragement.
She has also relished camping trips over many years to a family property near Gariwerd (the Grampians) where the huge mountain ranges form the backdrop of days spent outdoors.
Memories of these trips are immortalised in treasured oil paintings her grandfather created.
“Be great to go back and tell myself not to get so stressed out and upset about school assessments. In hindsight, they weren’t really that important.”
Hindsight is a marvellous thing.
