Education

‘There wasn’t really an off switch’: VCE results wrap up hectic final school year

For The Age's 2022 VCE results live blog

The demands of year 12 left little time to be stressed, says St Michael’s Grammar School student George Kaltzidis.

“I was engaged non-stop,” he said. “There wasn’t really an off switch.”

But some worry crept in for Kaltzidis as this morning’s VCE results release approached.

His accounting tutor texted asking for updates, and Kaltzidis’ mother Maria stood ready to report to extended family.

George Kaltzidis, year 12 student from St Michael’s Grammar School receives his ATAR score this morning.WAYNE TAYLOR

“He’s a pretty clever cookie,” she said. “I’ve never really had to tell him to do his homework.”

This assessment was borne out by the results: a perfect 50 in accounting and legal studies, contributing to an ATAR of 99.4.

Kaltzidis aims to study a Bachelor of Commerce at Melbourne University, which has a 91.00 entry rank.

He looks forward to applying his favourite year 12 subjects — accounting and economics — to his tertiary studies.

“I know it can lead to a lot of great avenues,” he said.

Kaltzidis plans to follow in the footsteps of his mother, who also studied commerce and now works in government services.

She considers her son’s ATAR result a Christmas present come early.

“I just wanted him to get what he wanted to get,” she explained. “Anything else is just a bonus.”