King's 2020 Alumni | Shimila Hartley

Academic

Last year's College Captain, Shimila Hartley, recently graduated with a very high ATAR of 98.4. Shimila shared her best piece of advice for getting good results, what she did to successfully prepare for her exams, and what's been keeping her busy in 2021 so far...

"What was your favourite subject at school?"
- It's hard to choose because I love learning in general, but if I have to say only one it would be chemistry.
"What was your most effective study habit as a King's student?"
- Reviewing constantly! I tried to stay on a topic until I understood the concept completely, however, that just wasn't always possible (especially in Maths Specialist!). So instead, I tried to keep building on my understanding and over time I was able to solidify my knowledge by practising, relearning and reviewing topics and questions.
"What do you do when the going gets tough?"
- PRAY. Honestly the only thing, apart from the support of my family, that gets me through the tough and stressful times is knowing that I can trust in God for the bigger picture when I struggle with the smaller picture - knowing I am not alone but God is always with me.
"How do you manage your time and avoid procrastination?"
- I set small goals to accomplish, while remembering that the bigger goal will be achievable if I just finish the small steps - one at a time.
"What is your best piece of study advice for obtaining good results?"
- Put in the effort from the start of the year - I guarantee you won't regret it by the end! And if you haven't started yet that's okay. Don't regret or feel guilty for time wasted in the past. Work on the now and do the best you can today so that your ‘future you’ looks back and says "thank you" for the work you've already put in!
"What did you do to prepare for your ATAR exams last year?"
- I went through all of my subject content from the start (beginning about 2 months before) but only focused on the parts I was still unsure about while solidifying my understanding on the topics I felt confident in. But in the weeks before, if you are feeling overwhelmed going through practice tests and exam topics, just trust the work you have put in throughout the year and give it your all for the last few days.
"What achievement are you most proud of?"
- Achieving high grades across all my subjects, and being able to use the knowledge I gained from my high school classes to help me in my university studies.
"What are your plans for this year?"
- I'm studying Biomedical Science at Griffith University with the hope of becoming a doctor.

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