Guiding Paths to Academic Excellence: Lessons from Our 2023 College Duxes

Guiding Paths to Academic Excellence: Lessons from Our 2023 College Duxes

Last Monday, our College Academic assembly brought the entire College Community together to celebrate our shared dedication to learning. We recognised the outstanding achievements of VCE and VM students from 2023, as well as recipients of the 2023 Year Level Excellence Awards. Among the highlights of the gathering were the insightful reflections shared by our 2023 College Duxes, Emma Fenton and Ross de Lange.

Emma Fenton earned recognition for her exceptional VCE study scores, celebrating a perfect Psychology study score of 50, along with outstanding results in Biology (48) and Chemistry (41), culminating in an overall ATAR of 98.20. Meanwhile, Ross de Lange, 2023 College Captain and joint dux, celebrated his accomplishments in Chemistry (43) and English (42). While their exemplary academic accomplishments were duly celebrated, it was their words of wisdom that truly resonated with our student body, illuminating the path to academic success.

Emma's speech emphasised the paramount importance of discovering one's own unique study method. Her approach to encoding new information involved meticulously typing notes as content unfolded, followed by rigorous practice exams until achieving a state of "auto-pilot" learning. She underscored the significance of mastering one's study method as instrumental to excelling in examinations. Emma's parting advice to the Class of 2024 was simple yet profound: "Find a pen you love; it will make Year 12 exponentially easier."

Ross, as joint dux, imparted invaluable advice to his peers, reflecting on his journey and highlighting four key principles:

1. Establish a consistent and sustainable routine, akin to the habitual act of brushing your teeth. Ross stressed the importance of dedicating consistent time, in a consistent place, for a consistent duration each day, incorporating practices such as commencing with a brief meditation and concluding by reflecting on marginal gains, to enhance learning effectiveness.

2. Listen actively in class, moving beyond passive note-taking to employ metacognitive techniques. Ross encouraged students to critically assess their notes, ensuring comprehension and connection with existing knowledge. He emphasised that “effective study should make your brain feel uncomfortable” in addition to encouraging students to “embrace the discomfort of learning” signifying true understanding of internalising concepts.

3. Cultivate an optimised study environment, free from distractions. Ross urged students to create a quiet space conducive to focused learning, eliminating anything that competes for attention including phones, pets, noise and interruption.

4. Finally, to remember that academic success does not define individual worth. Ross advocated for a balanced approach, prioritising personal interests, friendships, and social connections as essential components of holistic development throughout VCE.

We extend our congratulations to Ross and Emma as they embark on their tertiary studies in Biomedical Science at Deakin University and Science/Physiotherapy at Melbourne University. We eagerly anticipate their continued success. To all students, we wish you the very best for a successful academic year ahead, guided by the invaluable insights shared by our esteemed College Duxes.

Marina Brown | Director of Learning