Ella McAnally-Elwin heard the words "you have cancer" on her last day of school.
Diagnosed with Stage 2A Hodgkin's lymphoma, the 17-year-old Gilgandra High School student from country NSW started chemotherapy in October the same week as the HSC started — and juggled treatment over the course of her final exams.
"The day of my year 12 formal I was diagnosed after a biopsy," she said.
"I started treatment three days before my first HSC exam. It was a pretty big shock."
Despite the major setback, Ella was determined to not only complete the HSC but achieve the best possible result.
"The exams did seem less important, I guess in terms of my life, but I still wanted to be able to do something that I could be proud of," she said.
Ella sat exams in the morning then travelled an hour to Dubbo in the afternoons for treatment.
She was sick, appointments ran late, and she had to put in daily and weekly misadventure applications.
"I was tired and nauseous. It probably made it harder to get motivated for exams, but I wanted to still do it," she said.
Life doesn't get much tougher
But Ella didn't just get through all her exams, she aced them.
The 17-year-old featured on the 2022 Distinguished Achievers List for three subjects, receiving a band 6 (a mark of 90 or above) for mathematics Standard 2, Business Studies, and Design and Technology, and an ATAR of 88.
"I honestly didn't think I'd be able to get a band 6 in anything, let alone in three subjects," she said.
Her mum, Sue McAnally-Elwin, said the HSC gave her daughter a focus and she could not be prouder of her.
"We thought originally we were going to hospital with a chest infection, so it was a huge shock," Ms McAnally-Elwin said.
"I think the HSC was something for her to focus on but also hard to focus on and do well when she had all of this going on both physically and mentally, but she was determined, and she did it."
Ella has been granted early entry into Sydney University but plans to take a gap year in 2023.
Her treatment is set to finish in February just in time for her 18th birthday in March.
"Hopefully my birthday should be cancer-free and a big celebration."
Success for bush school
Gilgandra High School's year 12 cohort consisted of just 16 students, but the year achieved excellent results with five band 6s and 11 band 5s (a mark between 80-89).
Year 12 adviser Bree Patton said the strong results reflected the dedication and commitment shown by each student.
"The students have maintained a high level of application and consistency throughout their senior years," she said.
"2022 was the first time in many years the school has offered Business Studies and the class of 5 saw two band 6s and two strong band 5s.
"Strong results were also evident in Design and Technology with two more band 6s."
