CLASS OF 2024 SPOTLIGHT - Alice Zhu

“One thing I think people don’t think about is that you are preparing for Year 12 for five years before you undertake it. I wouldn’t have been able to learn and understand Year 12 Algebra if it hadn’t been for the strong foundation of BODMAS I gained in Year 8. Likewise, Year 12 Biology would have been like a foreign language if it hadn’t been for all that I learned in Science during Middle School. You are really just building on what you know. The key is to learn the new content gradually and be consistent with your study.”

When reflecting further on her years at Mater Christi, Alice also says the many opportunities, experiences, and subject offerings helped her discover her strengths and passions and set her up for success.

“Being able to try and explore different skills and areas of study helped me figure out what I’m interested in and good at. Mater Christi has enabled me to become a more confident, resilient person with a better understanding of who I am and the confidence to express my ideas. I’ve also come to know how to love and care for not just myself and the people around me.”

For her VCE, Alice studied Mathematic Methods, English Language, Chemistry, Specialist Maths (via VSV online learning), VET Chinese, and Biology (as an accelerated study in Year 10).

Acknowledging that different study techniques work for different people, Alice says taking lots of notes wasn’t ideal for her.

“I do take notes, which can be useful when you are looking for key points, but I find I rarely go back to them. The way I study is by working to understand the content and knowing how it works. I focused on doing loads of practice questions so I could understand when and where what I was learning could be applied.”

Alice acknowledges her family and friends for providing the personal support she needed to succeed in Year 12, as well as her teachers, Home Group Mentor, Year Learning Leader, and VSV supervisors, who always checked in on her to ensure she was on track.

After spending the first two months of 2025 travelling, Alice is now studying a Bachelor of Science at The University of Melbourne.

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