Sarah was the highest achiever at Albion Park High and listed among the state’s Distinguished Achievers after receiving more than 90 per cent in four subjects (English, biology, chemistry and maths) and a whopping 98.3 per cent for her ATAR.

“It was a bit of a shock,” she said.

“When I saw it online I stared at it for a while and I didn’t believe it, so I logged back out and logged back in and it was still there.

“I thought I was going to go ok, the HSC was a bit overwhelming at the time, but it was all worth it in the end.”

Sarah said she had mixed feelings about finishing both the HSC and school all together.

“It doesn’t feel real at first, it feels a bit strange. And then it’s just exciting and a relief,” she said.

“I’m free now, I can do whatever I want and all the hard work has paid off.”

Sarah received early entry into the University of Wollongong where she will study medical bio technology, which works with genetics and living organisms.

“I needed to get 85 in my HSC for that course, so I was working really hard because I just really wanted to get in,” she said.

“I have always wanted to do something in science and at the end of last year I wanted to do research.”

To celebrate the milestone Sarah is planning a dinner with family and friends and a holiday down the coast.