My essay about childhood heroes was in this year’s HSC English exam – it made me rethink who mine really were

‘Almost 20 years ago, I was one of many silent students carefully writing their name into tiny squares, chest pounding.’ Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

On Thursday morning, I received a confusing text message.

Not confusing in that I couldn’t understand it, like when young people wear complicated pants – but confusing in the sense that I couldn’t believe it.