MacKillop College students are challenging assumptions and defying expectations as they prepare for life after the HSC.
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The final results are released this week, but Amelia Wilson and Byron Kipreotis already have exciting paths mapped out.
Refusing to accept anachronistic gender stereotypes, Amelia Wilson has taken the opportunity to study mining engineering at Newcastle University next year.
She was offered early entry based on school recommendations and Year 11 results and is thrilled to follow her father into the engineering field; he is an electrical engineer, Amelia explained.
Amelia will be one of a minority of young women studying mining engineering, but isn't at all deterred by the gender imbalance.
"My cousin studies engineering and in his course of about 150 students there are fewer than 10 females," Amelia said.
"But there shouldn't be any reason a female can't work in this field. It's not common, but I have always felt very encouraged at school and home and I've been told there is a high demand for women in the industry."
Engineering was one of Amelia's HSC subjects, alongside Extension Mathematics, Chemistry, Standard English and Studies of Religion. The dream is to work in a big Australian mine.
Amelia's class mate Byron Kipreotis is also defying expectations, but in a slightly different way. He is challenging the assumption that students who receive an ATAR must go to university.
Byron has just been offered a rare mechanical fitter's apprenticeship with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and couldn't be happier.
The MacKillop College student was one of more than 200 applicants for the position and, after three rounds of interviews and testing, secured the highly sought-after opportunity.
Byron said he had always enjoyed working with his hands, ever since he was five years old and started tinkering on old cars with his pop.
Although he chose an academic pattern of study at school, Byron always wanted pursue a trade and MacKillop College prepared him well for that.
To prove his skills Byron was recently nominated for InTech, the HSC showcase for best timber projects in the state.
Byron could have pursued an apprenticeship in carpentry but ultimately took the opportunity with council because of the career paths it offered. He starts his new job on January 18.
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