Hastings student, now university freshman Ebony Nicholas has reflected on her record breaking ATAR score of 97.55 in 2020, the highest ever registered at Camden Haven High School.
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The 2020 year 12 student Ebony Nicholas is taking time this International Women's Day, March 8 to reflect on moments in her schooling where she had to 'choose to challenge'.
SInce graduating, Ms Nicholas has received $55,000 in scholarships to start her first year of study at the University of New South Wales.
"Currently I am a first year at UNSW studying engineering and science, and this upcoming International Women's day has truly reminded me of all the events and people that have brought me to this," she said.
"From extra primary school science lessons on photosynthesis to the enormous support and encouragement for girls in my high school's robotics team.
"I was lucky enough to be brought into the world of STEM despite it often being a male dominated area.
"The first few years of being new to coding, electronics and mechanics was daunting, but now I'm helping build robots at a major NSW university, and I hope to inspire that same difference in some other young person's life.
"The HSC itself was interesting during last year, to say the least, but my school was wonderful at helping us through it anyways.
"The support, dedication of teachers and my own persistence in studying all brought me to my ATAR, which I was still quite shocked with when I first received it.
"If I could give any advice to other girls this International Women's Day, I would just say to pursue what you enjoy, and persevere through the struggles of it.
"Nothing is that easy, but the combination of all your work is guaranteed to lead you somewhere, even if you don't know where that is at the time."