Christina Chiaverini plans to follow in her sisters’ footsteps and undertake a law and economics degree at the University of Wollongong next year.
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But the 18-year-old heads there as the only Chiaverini to record a first in course in her HSC.
The St Mary Star of the Sea College student excelled to be NSW’s best performer in the Legal Studies course.
Christina was the only Illawarra student to claim the prestigious honour of finishing first in a HSC course in 2018.
Smiths Hill High School student Jasmine Low also achieved first in the state in the Indonesian Beginners course but she completed the course through NSW School of Languages.
“I’m surprised but very happy,” Christina told the Mercury.
“I really enjoyed studying the course. I thought it was really worthwhile and extremely interesting.
“My teacher was always really helpful. She just really trusted us, which was always comforting.
“I think [Legal Studies] was probably one of my favourite HSC courses. It was great.”
Christina is hopeful her HSC success in Legal Studies is matched in her ATAR. Students will find out their ATAR results on Friday.
“Hopefully I get a good ATAR and then can look towards doing law and economics at UOW next year,” she said.
“Both my sisters did it and I sort of have a really good impression of what that can do for me, so I'm pretty excited.
“One has just graduated and one will be graduating in about a year. They both did the same course but they have wildly different interests.
“I think I’d be the same. I have a real interest in anything that is policy-based.”
Christina was part of the brightest sparks of the 2018 HSC recognised at the First in Course ceremony on Wednesday.
The 127 students who topped 118 HSC courses, were personally congratulated by NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes at the event hosted by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).
The Mercury will have the full list of Illawarra’s HSC top achievers from noon on Thursday.