There’s Olivia Fricke, who has applied to the Airforce and “sees after school life as an adventure”.

There’s Caleb Shepherd who has lived in Mount Isa for six years after moving from Woolongong in NSW and Sofie De Leeuw, who completed all her schooling in Mount Isa and positively loved lunchtime.

Estella Gillett, who says it’s awesome to have so many opportunities available to school leavers.

Then there’s Karen Ranjit Kumar, who said despite year 12 having it’s ups and downs, she has her fingers crossed to be accepted into UQ to become a Doctor.

Last but by no means least, Ethan Farrelly, senior dux recipient at Spinifex State College.

Olivia Fricke

Long back over the past year, how have you found year 12?

It’s been a big challenge but its been one I’ve been able to deal with. My friends and I have stood by each other and that’s the main thing.

What challenges did you face?

We were involved in extra curriculum activities which required us to be good at time management as well as all the studying, exams and the big work load this year.

Do you have any particular fond memories?

The Canoe Regatta, I’d never been before, it was my first one. It was so much fun on the water with my friends and the whole student body.

What is happening for you next year?

I’m applying as an officer at the Airforce next year. I saw an ad on TV and thought I’d really like to wear that uniform!

What others things are you excited for next year?

It’s going to be an adventure, meeting new people in the city. In Mount Isa we have such a close-nit community so to expand that would be amazing.

Do you see yourself coming back to Mount Isa?

Mount Isa is my home and my roots are here so I will be back.

Caleb Shepherd

How have you found schooling in Mount Isa?

I’ve been here six years after moving from Woolongong in NSW and I think it’s pretty good. We moved here for my parents work.

How have you found year 12?

Year 12 is not as hard as they make it out to be. I feel its the same as every other year although I expected it to be a lot harder.

What have you enjoyed most about the last year?

My engineering class.  

What’s on the cards for you next year?

I’m looking at a Radio Technician apprenticeship through the mines so I’ll be staying in Mount Isa. 

Sofie De Leeuw

How have you found schooling in general in Mount Isa?

I’ve been here since I was three so completed all my schooling here and it was pretty good. Everyone is friendly, you get along with everyone including the teachers.

What things stood out for you during year 12?

I loved lunchtime, that was a definite positive. A negative would be the workload – it was pretty hectic – and the assessment and how quickly you have to complete it by.

How does it feel now that you’ve achieved that now?

Over and done with – it feels good, I don;t really want to leave.

What’s the part that makes you not want to leave?

My friends and the fact that once you leave you’re out in the real world and you have to be a grown up.

What’s on the cards for you next year?

I have an electrical apprenticeship through Glencore. I’m pretty good at maths.

How does it feel to be staying in Mount Isa?

All my family are in Brisbane but I enjoy it here, I like the community and the heat, sort of.

Estella Gillett

Looking back on year 12, how does it feel to graduate this week?

It’s been awesome but there’s been some challenges, but also a lot of opportunities. This year I went away to the JCU Indigenous Invictus which was held in Townsville. Students from all over came to JCU to see what university was like. We got to participate in study lessons, so it gave us a great insight into what university life is like. 

Did it help you decide what you want to do?

Yes it did, next year I’ll be working in child care and in the future my goal is to became a teacher. I love children.

So, for now staying in Mount Isa?

Yes, for sure.

Karen Ranjit Kumar

How did you find completing your whole schooling in Mount Isa?

Often people think it’s a sheltered lifestyle, living out rural, but I think all the teachers and staff put in a lot of effort and help us experience all that is offered and out there.

How have you found year 12?

Obviously it’s had its ups and downs. It was a wonderful year. At the end of last year, I asked one of the year 12s how was it? She told me don’t stress just go through it – its a wonderful year. I remembered that one line and it certainly has been wonderful.

What’s been your favourite part so far?

Overall the friendships I’ve made, not just with the students in my cohort, but with the younger ones and the teachers. The relationships you forge with the teachers after year 11 camp is really strong and important.

What is next for you in the new year?

My first preference is to get into medicine at UQ, to make a difference in the world.

Do you think you’ll still have a connection to Mount Isa?

At the moment my family will be here, but I think once I finish medicine in Brisbane I’d like to come back and see how good old Mount Isa is going. 

Ethan Farrelly

What was it like going from schooling in Sydney to Mount Isa?

I’m born and bred in Sydney, but have been in Mount Isa since year 9. It was a good change because I’m the adventurous type. Personally, I enjoy discovering new places.

How have you found the past year?

It’s been a little bit of a struggle, some late nights but altogether its been quite good with a supportive atmosphere.

What’s your fondest memory, looking back?

I enjoyed Year 7 -12 day, which was at the had at the beginning of the year, because we got to bond as a whole cohort, joining with our junior kids to be role models and teachers to them.

What’s next for you?

I’m off to University in Canberra, I’ll be doing Engineering and Economics. My family is an engineering family and I love maths, science and problem solving so it all relates well. I spent some time at the mine doing QMEA  and particularly enjoyed that.

How helpful is it to do practical hands-on things while at school to help decide your future?

It was definitely a really good opportunity to have practical experience, to learn what its really like because you can’t quite understand what you’ll be doing in the real world just off paper. It’s living the engineering problems so it really benefited my knowledge of some aspects of the job.

Do you think you’ll still have a connection with Mount Isa once you leave?

I get the the feeling I’ll be back some time. Its a great community.