At the end of year 11, Kristen Daly knew something needed to change.
Once top of the class in primary school, Kristen struggled to keep her marks up during senior grades, coming last in her cohort in English by the end of her penultimate schooling year.
She made the bold decision to move schools, to Loyola Senior College in Mount Druitt at the start of year 12, where she "knuckled down".
On Friday morning, Kristen's hard work paid off. Surrounded by her principal, assistant principal and mum in one of her former school classrooms, she clicked open her ATAR result before turning away from the computer, too nervous to look. Her mum started to cry.
Not only did her ATAR make Kristen dux of her school, she has also received an early offer to study medical science at the University of NSW.
Kristen says her academic performance has encouraged her to pursue her dreams after high school.
"I completely doubted my own abilities. Until this year I wanted to be a fashion designer because I didn't think I was smart enough to pursue a career in science or academics," she said.
"But when I could see what I could accomplish [this year], I decided I wanted to become a paediatric surgeon."
This year, 57,061 NSW students received an ATAR, the median score of which was 69.00 - slightly higher than last year's.
Students, teachers and alumni from Loyola Senior College gathered at the school on Friday morning to be there for one another when ATAR scores were released, offering congratulations and consoling hugs.
"Most people were happy with their scores, but everyone was just relieved that there is no more waiting around," Kristen said.
