From one of the few pupils at Marnoo Primary School to the top of her cohort at Stawell Secondary College, 2017 dux Natasha Reading looks ahead to her next challenge, Melbourne University.
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She received an ATAR score of 83.35 and hoped to receive an offer from Melbourne University to study a Bachelor of Agriculture.
Her highest study score was a 42 out of a possible 50 in physical education.
“I was so pleased, it was exactly what I needed,” she said.
“It is pretty surreal to be the dux, it wasn’t long ago when I was in Year 7 seeing others win these awards.”
Ms Reading said living on a farm meant agriculture was where her heart was, and she was intent on pursuing it further.
“I’m around farming and animals, I love it, it really is where my heart is,” she said.
“But I also want to live in Melbourne for a while to experience that lifestyle while studying.
There will be challenges ahead, but I am looking forward to living out of home, studying subjects that interest me and meeting new people.”
Academic success was not foreign to Natasha Reading.
She was selected for the prestigious Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars program at the start of last year.
The Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program was an academic enrichment program designed to support high-achieving Victorian and select New South Wales and South Australian border high school students.
Every year 700 successful students are selected.
Ms Reading said she owed her Year 12 success to remaining composed and maintaining a life outside of her studies.
“I did two Year 12 subjects in Year 11 and that got me used to the work load,” she said.
“I learnt that it is better to learn the content and not stress over the marks or numbers.
“But I also didn't give up any hobbies – I still worked and played netball – it’s only one year and there is no point in giving up your whole life for a score at the end.”
