Bianca Scalone and Candice Curran have been part of the furniture at Parramatta Library in the lead up to their HSC exams. Picture: Gene Ramirez.
Former St Patrick’s Marist College, Dundas, student Eleni Doxaratoras, 18, wants to study public relations and journalism at university next year. ‘‘I’m a little nervous,’’ she said. ‘‘For the past two weeks I’ve been studying from 9.30am to 5 or 6pm. Picture: Gene Ramirez.
Since her final day of school late last month, HSC student Candice Curran has been focused every waking moment on her final exams.
It all begins with the English test on Monday and Ms Curran, 18, is anxious but seemingly in control.
‘‘I’m definitely nervous about English, she said.
‘‘We have to prepare for three essays, so it’s pretty scary.
‘‘I’ve been at the library eight hours a day, every day; I’ve been going hard out.
‘‘But I think it’s catching up with me.’’
The former Arthur Phillip High School student and Granville resident had no plans to taper-off the long hours in front of the books to freshen-up for the exam.
‘‘I think stress is good, in a way,’’ Ms Curran said.
‘‘It puts you in the game; keeps you prepared so you’re not lazy.’’
She hasn’t put all her eggs in the one basket, though. Ms Curran knows there are other ways into university and has applied for the Elite Athletes and Performers Scheme at Sydney University.
Her study partner Bianca Scalone said she was taking the whole process in her stride.
‘‘I’m trying to focus on one exam at a time so I don’t crazy,’’ she said.
‘‘If you try to focus on the ATAR, you just go crazy so I’m taking it a day at a time.’’
Although she is aiming for an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank of 90 per cent, Ms Scalone also has other options outside of the the exams.
‘‘I’m doing a full-time course in performance arts next year but I still want to get a good ATAR so I can go to uni one day,’’ she said.
‘‘People freak out about the exams but there are other pathways.’’