What’s been the best part about going to St Andrew’s Cathedral School for you?
My enjoyment of the St Andrew’s Cathedral School community is the defining aspect of what has been best at School.
Meeting all sorts of people and learning to form a well-connected, joyful friend group is one of the main reasons I wake up and think “school will be fun!”
The House events are also a riotous mixture of fun: MakeOff’s hectic, yet enjoyable last-minute preparations, the participation of dancers, singers and instrumentalist in SACS Factor (arguably the best event in my opinion), the competitive spirit of Athletics Carnival and Swimming Carnival and finally the opportunity to play against friends and people you may have never met in your favourite sports in Gala Day.
“The great teachers also make an integral part of St Andrew’s Cathedral School – motivating us not just to study harder and achieve our goals but also encouraging us to be better humans.”
Finally, the great teachers also make an integral part of St Andrew’s Cathedral School – motivating us not just to study harder and achieve our goals but also encouraging us to be better humans, all while having good banter along the way.
What is your proudest achievement at the School so far?
It’s hard to pin down because I think I’ve achieved a lot. It is probably a tie between getting Year 11 Dux and working very hard over the holidays to achieve it. Also, surviving 20-day in Year 10 and having a lot of fun with friends on it.
Year 11 was a really formative time for me since I realised I had the potential to do well if I applied myself correctly. After Term 1, which was to me abysmal, I developed good habits, like staying in the library, studying very hard in the weeks before exams and attempting to do well in all subjects, even the subject I was weakest in: English Extension 1.
The satisfaction of doing well because of raw effort (I got 2nd for my English Ext 1 final exam, which I never expected) was a great feeling. Getting the Dux email was even better and showed me my capabilities and skills.
The 20-day was an arguably more impactful achievement. After the first couple days of wishing I never picked Kosi to Coast, I found it to be challenging but extremely rewarding to reach the next checkpoint.
It deepened my connection to nature and made me feel hopeful about the years ahead. Rafting was much more enjoyable due to the isolation from everything. No worries about School or the rest of the world was truly refreshing, and the fact that my only concerns were food, water, enjoyment through activity and the materials for a tent was, to me, paradise.
What teachers have most inspired you?
All my teachers motivate me to study hard and be a better version of myself, but if I had to pick one, it would have to be Mr Williams, my Math teacher.
His very high skill of Math and multi-talented nature (his ability to teach Math, know some Physics and Chemistry, plus he can bake and run marathons) is inspiring and motivates me to try new things even though I may not be the best in them.
He also takes a lot of effort to ensure we understand the sometimes-byzantine concepts we have to learn – making videos and explaining things with multiple examples, so that we have a strong set of notes to understand and apply. He always lightens the mood with jokes as well.
He also recognised that in my Term 1 Math Extension 1 exam of Year 11, I was extremely upset with my 28/33 since I lost 2-3 marks on not reading questions. He told me that the singular grade is not the be- all, end-all and told me to work hard and not feel disappointed or demotivated. I also did, by my standards, poorly overall in Year 11 Term 1, so that pep talk was really appreciated. And seeing as I got 1st in Math Extension in Year 11 as well as Dux, and have so far got only 100%s in my Math Extension 1 exams, I really thank him a lot for everything he’s done.
You’re studying for the HSC. Is there a particular subject you most enjoy? Why?
Though I really like all my subjects, if I had to pick one, it would be Math Extension 2. It is the subject where anything is fair game and you don’t know what proofs could be out there, what difficult integrals there are, etc. That makes it seem like a nightmare, but to me it brings excitement and motivates me to study even harder, giving me greater satisfaction when I do well and driving me to greater discipline when, by my standards, I fail.
I also feel fascinated and captivated by concepts like reduction formulae, simple harmonic motion, complex numbers, which other people may dismiss.
Additionally, unlike English which is totally subjective and the Sciences, which require knowledge from differing sources alongside Maths, Extension 2 is always absolute and objective.
Do you have a few lasting memories of St Andrew’s Cathedral School or a story you’d like to share?
One lasting memory of the School would be participating in SACS Factor in Year 11. The day itself was incredible since we got to see and appreciate all the hard work that the competition to Westminster House had done, complementing everyone on their costumes and routine.
I also got a glimpse into how ridiculously talented my friends are (e.g. Aiden Penhall is REALLY good at trombone), deepening my connection with them and what they value.
Furthermore, we got to perform on stage, dance and vibe to the cheers of our friends, receive complements and constructive criticism for the next time, and then, despite a relatively abysmal result for Westminister, return hope feeling like a champion.
What do you hope to do next year and in your future?
Next year I hope to have started Medical School in hopefully UNSW or the University of Sydney, looking to become probably a Neuroradiologist and research into neurodegenerative diseases, prevention, potential cures and management.
“Whatever the future may hold, I will always cherish the four years I have been at St Andrew’s Cathedral School and will carry on the character strengths and fond memories all the way long.”
