Well, at the start of Yr 12 my careers advisor said quote that I lacked the work ethic and my subject combo had to many extensions I couldn't handle in it.
I ended up dux.
On another note, in yr 12-I had so many people expressing concern at my ability to manage extracurriculars and such with the HSC-always being warned to stop taking so much on etc. The biggest example of this was the massive surprised eyes and worried glances when I went overseas June/July right before our trials. Also, taking time off to do debating/public speaking/charity and other extracurriculars. Point is, you gotta be confident in your abilities and what you can handle and not let others doubt dissuade you. It was hard to believe it could all work out in the end with the amount of doubt people had (I had a tiny bit of worry after all that!). I managed a high enough ATAR to not only gain entry to my course(two marks above my goal ATAR set early yr 11), but with entry scholarship and a college place. I wouldn't have had my yr 12 year any other way.
I mean I think most people will encounter doubt along the way especially with high goals. I didn't try and make my story super dramatic-but point is, your yr 11 results can be no way indicative of your yr12 if you so wish. The HSC is not all consuming if you don't choose to make it it so. Elite athletes/performers get through it like one of my friends doing her exams in lockdown in Germany, people who have to care for relatives get through it with great scores, students where English is their second language tame the beast, people with disabilities annihilate the thing and then there's those with massive subject improvement stories (failing maths in jnr school to band 6 in yr 12).
