What does it feel like to receive the highest mark in the State for one of your favourite Higher School Certificate (HSC) subjects?
“Absolutely extraordinary!” said TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute (NSI) student Surbhi Misra.
A TAFE-delivered vocational education and training (TVET) student, Surbhi completed her Certificate I in Accounting course as a HSC subject at NSI’s Hornsby College.
Surbhi and other top ranking HSC students attended a HSC first-in-course award ceremony in December. They each were presented a certificate by NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth.
A student at Hornsby Girls High School, the course was recommended to Surbhi when she was still in Year 10.
“I was pretty sure even in Year 10 that I wanted to do something in the commerce field, so I knew studying accounting was a step in the right direction.”
“Studying at TAFE has given me a really good opportunity,” she said.
“It was an attractive option for me because I was able to complete most of the course early on in Year 11 and it gave me the chance to do something a little bit different. I also gained a recognised qualification while still at school, which was fantastic.
Surbhi said accounting became her favourite subject during the HSC.
“It was great to go to NSI and see people from other schools,” she said.
“It was an enjoyable place to learn, everyone helped one another and the teachers always made things fun.”
NSI Hornsby College accounting teacher Cecilia Cheung said she was very proud of Surbhi’s achievements.
“She has been an outstanding student all year through,” she said. “Both the teachers and students work very hard throughout the course.
“Often the work that is completed is equivalent to what we cover in our mainstream accounting courses, so to do so well is a great achievement.”
TVET courses allow school students to gain workplace skills and experience to get a head-start on their career. On completion, students receive a nationally-accredited Certificate qualification or a Statement of Attainment.
Surbhi is considering a career in Actuary and has recently been offered a scholarship by the University of New South Wales (NSW).
