The NSW Central West community has weathered its fair share of challenges, but Forbes High School has shown resilience and determination in ensuring its 2024 HSC students could excel despite adversity.
Among the standout stories is that of Isabella Brown, a 2024 HSC graduate, school captain, and dux of the school, who achieved an impressive ATAR of 92.7. However, Brown’s journey to success was far from easy.
In 2023, as a year 11 student, Brown faced daunting obstacles. COVID-19 had disrupted her education, floods had devastated her family property in Bedgerebong multiple times, and she missed 16 weeks of school.
“My learning just kind of stopped,” Brown recalled. “I didn’t get to do my year 10 exams and felt a bit lost. I struggled with the workloads and my mental health.”
With support from her teachers and community, Brown overcame these hurdles. Now, she is preparing to study physiotherapy at Charles Sturt University in Orange, a testament to her resilience and the dedication of Forbes High School staff.
A community united in adversity
Principal Kath Maksymczuk reflected on the collective challenges faced by the school and community, noting that the devastation of floods and the psychological toll of COVID-19 required innovative solutions.
“We’d certainly had our share of issues,” Maksymczuk said. “In 2022, we had one student sitting the final exam on the last day coming to school via a rural fire truck. The floods coming straight after COVID left very deep psychological impacts across the community and were ongoing and we just had to get back to business as quickly as we could and return to some kind of normality.”
For Brown, tailored guidance played a pivotal role. With help from Maksymczuk and PDHPE head teacher Justin Hoy, a five-week study plan was crafted, offering structure and focus. Regular meetings with teachers provided additional academic and emotional support, particularly in subjects like advanced English, where Brown worked to strengthen her reading and vocabulary.
“I found the most support was from my teachers,” Brown said. “I developed a really close relationship with them, and then they supported me throughout. I loved talking, just catching up. It wasn’t always just talking about school either but general life stuff as well. And they just support you in all areas of life.”
Beyond one student’s success
Forbes High School’s efforts extended beyond Brown. The 21-student year 12 cohort benefited from the same mentorship and resources. Another student, Grace Barbary, achieved a Band 6 in Korean Continuers, a subject she studied through the NSW School of Languages.
Brown’s achievements have deepened her connection to Forbes, where she has already secured work with a local physiotherapist. She plans to balance her university studies with contributing to the community that supported her.
“I’m definitely a homebody,” Brown said. “I like being with my family and friends, and just not a big fan of the city. I wanted to stay local so I could come home when I needed to and go back to uni when I needed to as well, sort of come back and work and serve my community, just like they helped me.”
Forbes High School’s example serves as a reminder of the resilience and unity that can emerge when communities come together to support the next generation.