Charlotte Seddon
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School: St Anne’s College
Year 12
What has been the highlight of your high school years?
For me, I feel I have come so far academically and personally, a highlight is very hard to choose from.
If I had to choose, participating in school productions would have to be the best experience. I’ve met so many new people, and it always gave me something to work hard towards during the year.
What has been your favourite subject and why?
I love so many subjects, but overall, psychology was one I really enjoyed. I wanted to do it since I was in primary school, so it felt very rewarding when I finally was able to learn the subject.
The content is stuff I'm interested in and useful for the rest of my life, especially in my future career as a teacher.
What challenges have you overcome to get here?
One of the hardest things in school for me was getting comfortable with not always meeting my expectations.
Whether it be a grade I worked hard to get but didn't quite meet my goals with, or a social event that didn’t turn out the way I imagined.
Life is full of curveballs, especially in high school, so learning to be okay with giving something my best shot regardless of the outcome was a huge challenge.
What are your plans for next year and beyond?
I am hopefully going to be accepted into La Trobe Shepparton for a Bachelor of Education Secondary, where I can keep inspiring the newer generations, like how I was inspired throughout my school years.
What advice would you give to the younger students coming through?
I want all the younger students to know the importance of being true to themselves, being different isn’t always easy, but at the end of the day, you will have less regrets by sticking to your principles, values and quirks.
People who love you for being unapologetically you are the ones you want around you anyway.
Humans are social creatures, so those connections are important, and they will come if you stay true to yourself through thick and thin, and things will get better for my fellow “weirdos” out there as you go through school. I promise.
What are you looking forward to the most about graduating?
All the new experiences and open doors waiting for me. I have learned a lot from being a high school student and I can only imagine what being a uni student, getting to move out of home and explore what my future looks like is going to do for my growth and development.
Charlie Ratcliffe
School: St Anne’s College
Year 12
What has been the highlight of your high school years?
The highlight of my high school years has definitely been sharing these experiences with my friends.
High school can be challenging, with academic pressures, extracurricular commitments, but having a close group of friends by my side made all the difference.
Another significant highlight has been participating in the social activities organised by my school, including camps, formals and debs.
These events, especially the camps, created unforgettable memories and offered a much needed break from the demands of school life.
What has been your favourite subject and why?
Throughout my VCE course, my favourite subject has been Units 3 and 4 Psychology.
I’ve always been interested in understanding how people think, feel, and behave, and psychology gave me an insight to explore that in a deeper and more structured way.
What made it especially engaging was learning about real world applications, like how memory works, the impact of stress on the body, and different theories of learning and development.
The subject challenged me to think critically, but it also felt really relevant to everyday life.
What challenges have you overcome to get here?
Throughout my schooling, one of the biggest challenges I’ve had to overcome has been staying motivated and balanced during stressful periods, especially when juggling multiple SACs, exams, and personal responsibilities.
There were times when it felt overwhelming, but this encouraged me to learn how to manage my time better and set my priorities.
I also faced moments of self-doubt, especially during more demanding subjects or when things didn’t go as planned, but pushing through those times helped me build resilience and confidence.
What are your plans for next year and beyond?
Next year, I aim to attend university and study the Bachelor of Nursing/Psychological Science.
I'm really excited about combining both areas, as they each offer different perspectives on health and wellbeing.
From this qualification, I hope to eventually branch off into a specialised area within the health field.
Long term, I’m passionate about working in a role where I can make a positive impact on others’ lives, while continuing to learn and grow within the healthcare profession.
What advice would you give to the younger students coming through?
My advice to younger students would be to stay consistently on top of your homework and assignments.
Developing good study habits early on helped me personally to manage my workload more effectively.
Staying organised and keeping up with tasks reduced stress during busy periods, which allowed me to engage more confidently with the content.
What are you looking forward to the most about graduating?
What I’m looking forward to the most about graduating is taking the next step toward my future by starting university and working towards my career goals, as I’m excited to be moving into a field that I’m passionate about.
Studying at university will give me the opportunity to begin shaping the path toward a specialised area within the health industry.
Along with that, I’m particularly looking forward to the independence that comes with this next stage, including managing my own time and responsibilities, making decisions about my future, and learning how to navigate life beyond school.
I see this as a chance to step out of my comfort zone, challenge myself, and continue growing both personally and professionally.
This milestone represents not just academic progress, but a step toward the freedom and responsibility I’ve been preparing for throughout my 13 years of schooling.