Blake Heading will be the first member of his family to go to university after he a completed his South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) this year with impressive results.
The Salisbury High School student recorded an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 93 and received a commendation from the state's governor as the Aboriginal student with the best overall SACE performance this year.
Blake completed five science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in his final year so his university aggregate was increased to 99.25, which means it is likely he will be accepted into the course of his choice.
"Ever since year 9, I was always intrigued with science but towards the end of year 11 we did a topic to do with nuclear decay in physics and from that I've just shown a passion towards nuclear medicine and being able to help people using that knowledge that I like."
"I'm hoping to pursue a career in radiology, nuclear medicine at UniSA, and with that ATAR that I got I should be able to get in hopefully."
Blake was one of the 806 students of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent who received a certificate – a 16.3 per cent increase in First Nations students.
"I feel like I've really pushed myself this year, and judging by the results they really have come through," he said.
"I'm hoping to kind of turn a new page with our family and help them out as much as I can. Hopefully going to uni will open new doors for them as well as me.
His mother, Diana Raymond, said Blake's hard work had paid off.
"I'm very, very proud," she said.
"We've been waiting for these results for a few weeks now and finally glad to see them."
"It's huge. Dad and I went through to high school but never made it to uni so he's literally the first one in our combined families that's going to make that next step."
A record number of school-leavers completed their SACE this year — 98.7 per cent of year 12 students.
That is an especially significant achievement, given the graduating class of 2022 represented the first cohort to spend their entire SACE journey during year 10, 11 and 12 in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Henley High School student Lily Thomas said while the two previous year 12 cohorts experienced more disruptions during their studies, the pandemic was still an added stress in the first half of 2022.
"I did get COVID and then there was lockdowns and isolations from family members that put a lot of stress on me as well to catch up on work."
Despite the added pressure, Lily was one of the state's top achievers.
She received an ATAR of 99.3 and she said she planned to study physiotherapy at the University of Adelaide next year.
"I'm feeling relieved. I would never expect to get that high of a result. I'm so happy," Lily said.
"I've been waiting all year for these results and I've worked really hard, along with all the other year 12s. It's been a pretty crazy year."
Praise for students' resilience
Education Minister Blair Boyer commended the students for their achievements, particularly given the disruptions throughout their entire senior schooling experience.
"They have done Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 during a global pandemic," Mr Boyer said.
"What these students have been through in terms of having a more disrupted end to their senior years than any cohort that has come before them I think that it's remarkable that we have seen the results that we have."
Mr Boyer said despite it being a day of celebration for many, there was a number of alternative pathways for students who may have been left disappointed by their scores.
"I know we put a lot of pressure on young people about what Year 12 results they get, what their ATAR is and although it is of course important … it only tells one part of the story in terms of what our young people have actually learnt at school."
"Year 12 results and your ATAR do not define you and you shouldn't think if you didn't get those results today that that's the end of the story for you because it's absolutely not."
SACE Board Chief Executive Michaela Bensley said today's results reflected the commitment of the students during many periods of uncertainty.
"For them to be able to show that resilience and have the success they've had today is just really astounding," Ms Bensley said.
"They're really an inspiration for all of us."
