Jude Ryan tops the class

Despite being the dux of Rochester Secondary College, Jude believes he found a good balance in Year 12, spending time on the footy field and with friends and family while hitting the books.

“I was very excited and just happy about all the hard work I put in throughout the year,” he said.

“I had my own priorities with sport and social, but I always had plenty of time to get work done and revise.

“I didn’t miss out on a heap and, at the same time, I knew my boundaries and how much work I needed to do.”

Jude credited the support and expertise of his teachers in guiding his school experience and allowing him to reach his full potential.

“They do so much work behind the scenes,” he said.

“The advice that you get from them is pretty invaluable

“Obviously, a lot of them have done it a lot, and they know their subjects really well. To get that knowledge to use throughout your school year is pretty great.”

Having studied English, mathematics methods, psychology, biology and physical education, he is looking to a STEM-focused career.

Jude is hoping to pursue a degree either in agriculture at La Trobe University in Bundoora or physiotherapy at its Bendigo campus, currently weighing up his options ahead of the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre change of preferences deadline next week.

“I’m exploring both,” he said.

“I’d like to stay as close to home as I can. If there was an agriculture course in Bendigo, I’d definitely be looking at that.

“I’ve got family farm commitments and sporting, but at the same time, Bundoora looks like a really nice place, and it’s not too far from home.”

Further down the line, Jude would love to stay around Rochy, continuing to play footy for the Tigers and be around friends and family.

The Rochester Secondary College class of 2024 overcame multiple lockdowns and flood events during secondary school, experiences that Jude is proud of his peers for having faced head-on.

“It was a very big impact,” he said.

“It affected lots of people in different ways ... I was lucky that I wasn’t one of the ones in floods (whose) house was really damaged.

“It was really unfortunate for the others that that happened to, it made it really tough for them.

“Everyone should be really proud of themselves and how they’ve overcome these challenges.”

Principal Matthew Koutroubas echoed this pride, noting that all students achieved their VCE.

On behalf of the school, he said he was excited to see what was next for the graduates.

“Congratulations to our graduating Year 12s,” he said.

“They’ve done the hard yards with everything they have faced throughout their schooling.

“We look forward to hearing their adventures and where they go from here.”