Mates are my “big rocks” – why friendship counts in study
Mateship – it’s invaluable in everyday life, and often decisive in places like the battlefield and the sporting field. But what about the journey to the examination room?
The answer is a resounding yes, according to three of Trinity’s latest academic high achievers.
Their conviction that mutual help and friendship lifts results, as well as emotional wellbeing, underlines Deputy Headmaster – Academic, Debbie Williams’, assertion that education is not a competitive sport.
It reinforces the idea that viewing the student next to you as a teammate rather than an opponent works to everyone’s benefit in practice.
“It’s important to support your mates,” said Oliver Askew (13We), who will study Engineering at UNSW after a gap year working and coaching touch football and rugby at the Summer Hill campus. “If someone misses a class it’s important to help them out by sharing notes and teaching them as well,” he told Head of the Senior School Heath De Lany during a Q&A at Trinity’s latest Scholars’ Assembly.
“I had a supportive group of friends. Leading up to the final exams we spent a lot of time in the library working through things and just being around each other.”
Davide Eboli (13WH), a Dalyell Scholar studying Commerce at Sydney University, rated his friendship group as one of the “big rocks” in his life.
He recalled a visiting speaker in Year 10 encouraging students to think of life as a jar to be filled with rocks and sand.
“What do you put in first? The sand? No. Put in the big things first – like homework, study, and friends – then factor in the little things.
“That’s the philosophy I put into practice. Group studies also allowed us to have a social break.
“Everyone would teach the rest their specialty in the syllabus. If you can teach you obviously understand the content. This also allows you to get taught by someone who knows the content well. “We reviewed each other’s assignments, too. You get a different perspective, not necessarily better or worse, but a fresh pair of eyes is often valuable.”
Oliver Smith (13Ar), whose Ramsay scholarship to study western civilisation at the Australian Catholic University includes six months’ paid study in Rome, said his biggest challenge after the Year 12 trial exams was to remain consistent and motivated.
“You are home alone without teachers to prod you. That’s when your social groups are important, even if you just pick up the phone and call someone.”
He also came to fully appreciate the value of teachers.
“They became such an asset to me when I figured out they were experts who had seen it all before. I picked their brains and sent them endless drafts of work. My work immediately started to improve and then went to the next level.”
A tip from a scholar from the previous year also helped him.
“He gave some good advice about using your extra commitments, like sport and School office, as a break from study. When I adopted that mindset, it was monumental for me.”
A chat with his parents after a disappointing GPA (grade point average) in Year 10 also got him on track.
“They told me I needed to pull my head in over the next two years. That was a real turning point.
“I wanted to do it for them after the great opportunity they provided me with. I also wanted to do it for myself, to know that I gave it a crack and put it all out there.”
There was also sibling rivalry – he wanted to beat his sister. In the end he had to call it a draw after attaining exactly the same ATAR.
Oliver Askew, a first XV rugby player, ruptured his ACL at the end of Year 11 and suffered the “heartbreak” of being denied his number one sporting outlet. But mateship was the answer then, too.
“It was a tough mental challenge to get over that, but I did it by making sure I was still part of the team, going to training and working on my rehab.”
He said the trials were important but advised students not to put too much emphasis on them. “It’s not the end of the world if they don’t go as planned.”
Davide Eboli said “everything clicked” for him on the first day of Year 11.
“I started sitting at the front of the class, listening avidly, and completing homework. That’s when I realised it was the final sprint home in a marathon, and you can’t afford to take your foot off the pedal. “Because the next two years could – not define you – but definitely shape who you are as a person. I had my eyes on the final target.”
