I was one of those unusual people who absolutely loved high school. It was a place where academic success was rewarded, rules were clear, friends were plentiful, and you got chat breaks every hour or so.
It was fun to spend all day giggling with friends, passing notes in class and whispering about boys. I liked learning, but most of all I loved getting good marks, revelling in the praise of teachers, parents and friends.
In high school, I was the high achiever. But that changed when I arrived at university.Credit: iStock
I was definitely a nerd, but I think I was a cool-ish one. I studied hard but went to parties, got great marks but would happily show up late to class because I was kissing my hot boyfriend behind the back building.
When I started Year 11, my parents were going through a divorce, and academic success became a way to be seen among the chaos. It was one place I could shine. By the end of the year, I was excelling in all subjects.
As people praised my effort and my intelligence, I started to build a sense of self upon the flimsy foundation that I was clever. Maybe even special.
My hard work paid off. I got a cracking ATAR. I had an article published on a prominent website. I was accepted into my dream degree: journalism at the University of Technology Sydney. It felt like I had the whole world at my feet – at least, that’s what everyone kept telling me. “You can do anything,” was the mantra. I honestly believed it.
And then I started uni.
On my first visit to UTS, I couldn’t believe how big it was. The campus was scattered all over Ultimo. There were students everywhere. I couldn’t find my classroom. When I finally located the lecture hall, it was filled with hundreds of other nervous teenagers, eager to make their mark. A room full of high achievers. A room full of duxes. Everyone here had been special at school. Now, nobody was.
I thought I was a ‘high achiever’. Then I got to university
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03.03.2024
I was one of those unusual people who absolutely loved high school. It was a place where academic success was rewarded, rules were clear, friends were plentiful, and you got chat breaks every hour or so.
It was fun to spend all day giggling with friends, passing notes in class and whispering about boys. I liked learning, but most of all I loved getting good marks, revelling in the praise of teachers, parents and friends.
In high school, I was the high achiever. But........
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