Tayissa Dunn is taking a gap year before going to university. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Murrumbidgee Regional High Student Tayissa Dunn is the youngest we’ve profiled as part of the Region series looking at high achieving 2022 Year 12 graduates. Having scored excellent grades, she is now choosing between three top-quality universities after completing a gap year in Griffith. Let’s have a look at her reflections on schooling life and aspirations for the future.
Name: Tayissa Dunn.
Age: 17 (I started school early and don’t turn 18 until the end of April).
Schools: Murrumbidgee Regional High School (Wade site) and Griffith East (primary).
Best memory of school: The last week. Having the muck-up week and everyone being together as a year. It was really fun. We also dressed up as well.
Naughtiest thing you ever did at school: For muck-up week, we all came to the school and we threw streamers all over the fences.
Teachers that inspired you: Ms Casey and Mrs Coates, my society and culture teacher.
One thing you’d change about the education system: There are so many things. But I’d have to say the spacing with assessments was pretty bad. We would have a few weeks when we didn’t have any assessments … and then we’d get them all of a sudden and it was a lot of stress.
Tayissa Dunn (front row, far right) was a regular award winner at her school. Photo: Murrumbidgee Regional High School.
Role model: Probably my teachers. Both Ms Casey and Mrs Coates helped me out a lot. They kept me calm.
Plans for 2023: I’m working now doing a gap year. I have two jobs: I work at the cafe Coco and Bean and The Coro Club. I’m going to save up some money. Next year, I’m going to move to university – either Monash, Melbourne or Wollongong. I’m going to study media and communications. I’ve been accepted to a double degree in marketing at Monash. I want to do social media management. I’ll see if Wollongong could offer that too.
Best advice you ever got from your parents: My mum helped me a lot with stress. During my HSC, I overworked myself a lot. She would always tell me, “you need a break, you need to chill out”.
Social issue you most care about: Mental health support. We don’t have enough. [Almost all Year 12 graduates profiled for Region have identified mental health as the social issue they most cared about.]
Special skills: I used to play netball, but this year I’m not just because of work as I want to concentrate on earning money so I can be comfortable when I move away.
Dream career/job: Social media management or something to do with travel. During university, I think I’ll have a break and travel. This year I’m going to Thailand with my family and I’m really excited.
The Leeton and Griffith Country University Centres help Year 12 graduates transition into university life via their ‘Future me’ program. To find out more, visit their events website.
If you know of a year 12 graduate doing exciting things in 2023, drop us a line at [email protected].
Loading ...
