Track star Matilda Cole has secured a five-year scholarship with a US university. Photo: Wagga Wagga High School/Facebook.
Matilda Cole has just sat through her first HSC exam — English 1.
She’s also secured a five-year full ride to Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, as a Division I middle-distance runner, and believes there are other ways to succeed outside of your HSC.
The track star believes that hard work, dedication and aiming to be the best version of yourself should be what define your character, not the ATAR.
Like her friend Darrell Connellan, she thinks the ACT’s system, where results over a period of two years (Years 11 and 12) are calculated through continuous, school-based assessments and count towards the ATAR, may be better.
“There’s so many opportunities outside of the HSC, like think back in perspective, how many people have been limited because of their ATAR?” she said.
“You don’t go and define somebody by their ATAR and yet, we put so much pressure on it. It’s a social norm.
“It’s like, ‘You got your HSC. It’s the biggest day of your life.’ Really?”
Matilda will be jetting off to the US when her business management and administration course starts in January.
But before that, Region caught up with her for our ongoing series profiling Year 12 students to discuss role models and how someone should be defined by their hard work and dedication, not their ATAR.
Name: Matilda Cole.
Age: 18.
School: Wagga Wagga High.
Best memories of school life: Being in the leadership team and being school captain at Wagga Wagga High. The last few weeks of school when we did the Amazing Race and trivia night as well. It felt like we were one, not divided.
Naughtiest thing you ever did at school: Wearing the wrong shorts one day.
Teachers who inspired you: Probably our principal, Mr Davies. He really encouraged me to chase my dreams. You can always learn later in life, but you don’t always get these opportunities now. So take those opportunities now and always give it your best effort.
And then also my English teacher, Mrs Smith. She understands that we have things going on outside of school and makes sure there’s always a balance, and got us to always check in on one another because that’s the most important — not school, but to be the best versions of ourselves.
Matilda Cole and Darrell Connellan, who believe a continuous, school-based assessment could be a better alternative to the HSC. Photo: Erin Hee.
One thing you’d change about the education system: The exam shouldn’t be three hours because our periods are only an hour. We have been brought down to an hour from an hour and 20 minutes, so then doing three-hour exams is quite difficult and straining.
Like Darrell, she believes that the current ATAR and HSC system puts too much pressure on students.
I’ve never talked to someone who said, ‘Oh, I did really well in my HSC, so I got to where I am today.’ They always say, ‘Hard work. Dedication. Never give up.’
People perform differently under different situations.
Role model: My parents. They inspire me to chase my dreams and work hard to achieve whatever I put my mind to.
Plans for next year: I’m going to the US to pursue Division I middle-distance running in cross-country. I’m starting in January and it’s a full scholarship for five years. I’m currently enrolled in business management and administration at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Best advice you ever got from your parents: Go out and grab what you want to grab. Why can’t it be you?
Future career: Something in business management and administration.
