Hundreds of students from Launceston College have started a new journey.
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Alongside celebrating the achievements of all Year 12 students, the college's graduation and awards ceremony on Wednesday was a chance to recognize those who went the extra mile.
Anna Roberts received the Vicki Daymond Award, the college's highest honour awarded to the student of the year.
She said she was shocked when she received the news.
"The people who received this award in the past are people I looked up to and I knew," she said. "They're half the reason I did what I did, and got involved the way I did - because I wanted to be like them. So to be on the same level as people like them is really incredible.
"It makes me feel so special and honoured, and I'm very grateful."
Ms Roberts said wasn't 100 per cent certain what the next year would hold, but was keeping all of her options open.
"I'm working toward a very high ATAR, but whether or not I use that at a Victorian uni going down an arts degree pathway or global studies, I just don't know," she said.
"I'm also applying for the defence force, so I'm keeping all of my doors open. I'll just see what I can get come my way."
IN OTHER NEWS
The recipient of the ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award was Lachlan Hindrum.
Mr Hindrum said he received the award when graduating from Riverside in Year 10, and was shocked to receive it a second time.
"What really came as a shock with it is that I was just going about doing what I enjoyed, which is giving back to the community," he said.
"I never expected to be recognised in the way that I have, so I think it's a great honour to receive it."
Mr Hindrum said his goals had shifted since the beginning of the year.
"I always believed that our experiences that we have through life shape us and make us who we are," he said.
"At the beginning of the year I was ready to dive head-first into a medicine degree and pursue that career path. Through the year I've realised that there's a lot more to the world that we live in, and I kind of want to get out and explore it."
"At the same time I've become more and more aware of a need for greater youth support for re-engaging disengaged youth."
"So next year I'm embarking on a gap year, of sorts, for 18 months on the Windward Bound."
He said he was looking forward to the opportunity to work with people of different backgrounds, which would be an amazing experience before beginning his university studies.
Ms Wheatley received the Launceston College All Rounder Award.
"It's so crazy to even think about being nominated for the award, let alone actually receiving it," she said.
She said despite being "not the most gifted academically", she worked hard to get involved in every aspect of school life.
"I was always taught to give 100 per cent into what I was doing so sport has always been a big part of my life," she said.
"Being involved in almost every area of the college has opened my perspective so much onto what the world has to offer."
Ms Wheatley said she had the next few years planned out, with her pathway taking to to university to study to become a PE teacher.
"I wasn't expecting to do that, but the main reason I wanted to be a PE teacher was to be a female role model for young sportswomen," she said. "I never got that."
"I was always the kid who wanted to run the long distance with the boys in the cross country but I was never allowed to, and I wanted to do football but it was only for boys, so I had to play netball instead.
"I want to be the person that can say, 'you do what you want, it's your life, you've got to live it the way you want to live it'."
For students earlier on in this high school journey, the trio shared some words of wisdom.
Ms Roberts said since she didn't know what she wanted to do, she tried everything.
"I just dipped my toes into every department we have at this college," she said.
"Any time an extracurricular activity popped up, anything I had the spare time for, I just put my hand up for it - especially if it was something new.
"Just get involved and give it a go."
Mr Hindrum said for him, it was easier to be the best that he could be rather than compare himself to others.
"Trying our hardest to do our best is always the best thing to do, because it's through looking at ourselves and ways that we can improve ourselves that we do end up being amazing people," he said.
"Certainly what Anna was saying, as well. Trying out everything is the best way to figure out what we want to do in the future."
For Ms Wheatley, immersing yourself 100 per cent in what you're doing was important.
"Even if you go into subject and you're not sure it's for you, just work out what it is you want to do early on and even if it's not, stick it out," she said.
"You get so many great achievements by sitting in a class with amazing role models and being surrounded by people in a college where everyone is different and amazing is such an eye opener."
"I think being confident in yourself is the most important thing. Your mind is one of the most powerful things you have, so if you tell yourself that you can't do something, you can't. If you tell yourself you can do something, you're probably right."
The graduation and awards ceremony took place on November 6 at Launceston's Albert Hall.
Other award winners included:
- Peggy Pedley Award - Kyle Cos
- Outstanding Achievement in VET Hospitality (back of house) - Riley Kuys
- Outstanding Achievement in VET Hospitality (front of house) - Emmanuelle Oakey
- Aaron Nichols Memorial VET Construction prize - Jasper Jenkins
- VET Training Award - Bianca Antoniazzi and Olivia Knight
- Mary Woolhouse Award - Kade Renshaw
- Encore Theatre Company Award - Jasper Tabuyo
- Exceptional Endeavour Award - Lauren Ashley
- Zonta Club Award - Jessica Brown
- Launceston College Quiet Achiever Award - Gabriella Franklin
- Global Understanding Award - Kyle Cos
- Sportsperson of the Year - Samuel Clifford and Liam Johnston
- Principal's Award - Georgia Wing
- Pride in Our School Award - Charlotte Edwards
- Sue Napier Civics Award - Oscar Purtell