Dejan will shortly complete year12 at the Australian Technical College Western Sydney in Kings Park.

``I felt so happy I worked really hard for it,'' he said of his award. ``It's a feeling that's hard to explain, but it pushes me to do more and more to get more experience.''

Dejan has wanted to be a chef since he was a small boy.

``My dad is a chef and when I was 12 or 13 he started teaching me his skills,'' he said.

``It's my passion, because I like seeing food and I like the taste of it.

``There's always something new and I'm willing to learn everything.''

He said competing his HSC at the Australian Technical College helped his ambition, because its course structure gave him the right mix of study and work experience.

``I've had great teachers and this school has given me something other schools couldn't,'' Dejan said.

``Now that there'll be no more school there'll not be as much free time.

``I realise you have responsibilities once you have a job.''

He said he was keen to study at TAFE and work in the industry.

He doesn't know where his ambition will take him except that he wants to be an outstanding chef.