Ms McQueen was given the good news on Monday morning, December 11, that she had received an ATAR of 83.75, making her dux of the school.
“I worked really hard for the past two years towards a goal like this,” she said.
“I’ve really pushed myself in my studies.
“I was proud of myself and really happy with the achievement.”
Ms McQueen said to achieve this goal, she got into the habit of applying herself where she could and knowing when to rest.
“I focused on my own learning, and what I knew helped me rather than what I was told would work,” she said.
She said the biggest hurdle she faced was getting sick in the middle of the school year.
“I had a lot of support from the school and from my parents,” Ms McQueen said.
“I made sure not to blame myself too much and just try to know that things would be okay.”
She also highlighted that a life outside of school was vital.
“It’s really important to focus on friendships and family ... taking time to have that social life,” Ms McQueen said.
“It’s also important to notice if you can’t focus or if you are too tired to do things.
“If you just don’t quite feel like doing something, push yourself to get up and give it a go just to see how you feel.”
Now, Ms McQueen plans to go to university to study genetics and take electives in journalism.
“I want to be a science communicator,” she said.
Over the two years, she said she had been interested in science subjects, especially chemistry and biology.
“All sciences ... that’s what I love,” she said.
Fellow Year 12 student Julia Smith also received excellent results, and Year 11 student Finbar O’Sullivan took Year 12 subjects and received high scores.
Ms Smith scored 79.8 on her ATAR and a study score of 40 out of 50 for general maths.
“I just really enjoyed the subject,” she said.
“I like studying some maths because I understood all of it.”
She said while she was happy with her results, trying to stay calm with her schoolwork was tough.
Even though Ms Smith enjoys maths, she plans to go the science route.
“I want to do nursing,” she said.
She plans to take a gap year before starting her bachelor’s degree at Deakin University.
Meanwhile, Mr O’Sullivan scored 41 in maths methods and 42 in physical education.
“I studied as much as I could, but I have to attribute a lot to the school and the teachers,” he said.
He said he had a tough time dealing with burnout near the end of the year, but he received great support.
Mr O’Sullivan took advanced subjects because he wanted an extra challenge.
“It was definitely a challenge, but it was also good fun,” he said.
Seymour College VCE co-ordinator Sharon Hill congratulated all the students on graduating and doing well on the exams.
“Seymour College has yet again had a successful cohort of Year 12 students,” she said.
“A number of students achieved study scores in the 40s, in the top 10 per cent of the state’s results.
“Again, there is a correlation between dedication, excellent teacher and family support and future pathways.”
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