Tom McGregor was the Dux of the College in 2017, scoring the highest possible ATAR of 99.95. Recently he addressed the Headmaster’s Assembly where he spoke about some the strategies he used to achieve his academic success. A copy of his speech to the boys is below.
Good Morning, Dr Hayes, Mr Blake, The Brothers Community, Staff and Boys.
When Mr Bookallil asked me to speak about some strategies that helped me to achieve academically, a few different thoughts popped into my head. Had he asked me this two years ago, I’m sure my response would have been something boring and obvious like “do your homework and submit your assignments on time.”
Now, don’t get me wrong, these things are important, but you have such a unique opportunity here at Joeys that it would be a waste to just go through the motions and only do the basics. Having moved from the relative comfort of school into the alien world of university, I realise now that there were a couple of really important strategies that allowed me to make the most of this special place and achieve the results that I did.
First and foremost, I strongly believe that you need to collaborate and involve yourselves in group work wherever possible. I know that for many of you, ‘group work’ is code for doing nothing during study, but collaboration is an important skill that every single one of you will require for the rest of your lives, regardless of the path you choose to take. It’s easy to sit at your desk and right notes and convince yourself that you’re fine for the exam. But being able to explain a concept to a mate or justify your argument in group discussion is the best way to know for sure.
When I was at school, some of my most effective study was not done with pen and paper, but instead involved a group discussion or brainstorm in someone’s room. I know that it can be easy to stray off task when working with others, but with a bit of self-discipline, effective collaboration can give you such an advantage in your academic pursuits. Make the most of this unique boarding environment and work together whenever you can. I assure you that not only will it help you here at school, but the collaborative skills you develop will benefit you further down the track, whether it be at uni, in your career or your relationships.
Another important strategy that I believe to be essential is taking responsibility for your own academic success. At school, it can be very easy to fall into a routine where you only study when you are told to study, and you only do the work you are told to do. Although teachers are here to guide us, it is ultimately up to each one of you to think about what you would like to achieve and how you are going to do it. If you want to set ambitious goals, it’s not good enough to just do the work that your teachers give you. You have to be independent and find other routes to success.
Doing past papers and asking your teachers to mark them is one of many ways that you can go above and beyond in your pursuit of academic achievement. If you can’t find any questions, make your own and answer those. It’s the students who take this kind of initiative that are always rewarded come exam time. However, while the academic side of things is important, learning to take responsibility for yourself is a significant life skill that you will need in your post-school years.
Having been away from Joeys for a few years now, I know how important it is to be independent. You don’t have teachers nagging you to submit assignments at uni or pushing you to do your job. Being able to develop that level of self-responsibility now will not only give you a leg-up with your academic work at school, but it will leave you well placed to dive into all the challenges that life after Joeys presents you.
Hopefully what I have said has given you something to think about. But even if these strategies aren’t for you, being at a place like this means that you have so many tools available to help you reach your academic goals. The STRIVE program, homework support and peer tutoring are just a few of the great opportunities that Joeys provides for you to improve the way you learn.So, to finish off, I just want to leave you with this. Being at Joeys is such a special thing and you need to make the most of it. This means that you should have fun, but it also means that you have to knuckle down at times, whether it be in your studies, sport or whatever else you are passionate about. If you can manage to introduce these strategies into your studies in a way that works for you, I guarantee that you will be able to perfect this balance between work and enjoyment, and in turn, get the most out of your Joeys experience.
Tom McGregor
Thank You.