A distance education student is among 30 students to receive the highest Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) in Queensland.
Australian Christian College graduate Kate Sanderson received an ATAR of 99.95, bringing her one step closer to her childhood dream of becoming a doctor.
Ms Sanderson said she was inspired to become a doctor by her grandfather, who was a rural general practitioner, and by an almost year-long stay in hospital when she was 11 years of age.
"I was really cared for and nurtured, and from that moment forward I was passionate to give back to the community and hopefully one day be a doctor that can have an impact on someone else's life."
When the pandemic began and schools were forced to move online, Ms Sanderson switched from her Gold Coast school to study online with the Australian Christian College, as it was already delivering distance education.
"At that time it wasn't really known how COVID-19 would go," she said.
"I didn't know how long we would be online for, and because all the schools that weren't online prior to COVID had to rush to move online, I was worried that I would be disadvantaging myself."
Ms Sanderson said she was in shock when she found out she received the top rank.
"It was a surreal movement, I was very excited, I was thrilled really — very grateful," she said.
Ms Sanderson thanked her teachers, family, friends and boyfriend for the support they gave along the way.
She hopes to study a Bachelor of Medical Science with provisional entry into the Doctor of Medicine at Griffith University, which requires an ATAR of 99.85.
Class of 2022 wakes to results
Queensland Year 12 graduates received their final results today, with 27,245 receiving an ATAR and 33 students achieving the highest rank of 99.95.
Of the 51,420-strong graduating class, 92 per cent of the students received a Queensland Certificate of Education and 53 per cent received an ATAR.
More than 33,000 students achieved a VET certificate or qualification.
Education Minister Grace Grace congratulated the students that received 99.95 and the teachers, parents, families and principals that supported them.
"This is a lot of the time, individual effort, and you cannot take anything away from these students," she said.
"To the other 51,000 of the class of 22, congratulations to all of you — you've done it, it's the end of your schooling life."
Ms Grace also urged students who did not achieve the Year 12 result they were hoping for not to be disheartened.
"It's not the end of it, there's plenty of resources and people out there to support you," she said.
"The pathways available now for further training, education and employment are almost endless … don't be disheartened, there's always something else you can do, follow your passion and you'll do well in life."
Support for alternative pathways exists
Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre chief executive John Griffiths said it was pleasing to see students qualify for an ATAR with a range of subject combinations and commended students for their resilience through home schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The resilience demonstrated will provide you with an excellent platform for whatever you aspire to in future years," Dr Griffiths said.
"If you didn’t receive the ATAR you were expecting, don’t despair — there are many pathways available to you. The ATAR does not define you."
