St Ursula’s College has a strong focus on supporting students to be multilingual and this global outlook has paid off: HSC students have earned six top 10 placings in Languages subjects in 2022.
Clara Medanic took out first place in Croatian Continuers, while Sofia Di Prinzio earned two top ten spots: third in Italian Continuers and fourth in Italian Extension.
St Ursula’s girls also dominated the top spots in Modern Greek Beginners, with Ella Nicou bagging second place, Eleftheria Houliaras taking third place and Georgia Morse coming in fourth.
College Principal, Mrs Mary Leask, said success in language subjects requires strong collaboration between dedicated students and staff.
“We’re enormously proud of these strong results in what are complex and demanding HSC units of study,” she said.
“We want girls who speak an additional language at home to be able to maintain their connection to their mother tongue and learn to value their cultural heritage and we want to give all students the opportunity to learn an additional language, a high-value skill in our ever-changing global community.”
Clara Medanic, who was born in Australia but for whom Croatian was a first language, said she felt fortunate to be able to study the language formally for the HSC.
“I started learning Croatian in Year 1 and then I did it at high school from Year 7,” she said.
“I like how having another language allows me to have a different kind of identity and explore different parts of myself. My Croatian also helps me feel more connected to my family, especially to my family overseas and it will help me when I go to live in Croatia later, which is something I hope to do.”
In addition to earning First in State in Croatian Continuers, Clara has been named one of St Ursulas’ Distinguished Achievers, having earned a mark of 90 or above in English Advanced, English Extension 1, Studies of Religion I and Croatian Continuers.
Next year, Clara has plans to undertake a Bachelor of Arts with Advanced Studies in Languages and hopes to develop a career as a writer and translator.
Her advice to future HSC students is to set yourself up for success.
“Doing subjects you truly love and are passionate about really helps you in the long term,” Clara said.
“At St Ursula’s, having people around me that cared about me and supported me, not just a student, but as a person, was so important to me. I’m grateful to have found friends that love the same things I do and teachers who identified our talents from the very beginning.”