Top scorer Irani

Freyana Irani’s university admissions index (UAI) registered a whopping 99.75 in the High School Certificate exam, scoring over 90 percent in each of her subjects. So, not only was she selected to receive the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the HSC but walked into the course of her choice at the University of New South Wales, Manas­hni, the newsletter of the Sydney based Australian Zoroastrian Association informs us.

The 17-year-old topper from the Baulkham Hills High School has opted to study law combined with media and communications. Additionally she has elected two arts subjects in which she is passionately interested — film studies and French.

"I was blessed with incredible support from both my parents who, from a young age, have encouraged me to pursue my own interests and push myself to achieve what I am capable of accomplishing. Additionally, my elder sister Farah supported and encouraged me throughout my school years, and I cannot imagine achieving my success without this support,” Irani told Manashni.

She also had a word of advice for her peers: "Your marks and your UAI do not make you who you are and while I do encourage you to put in all your effort to achieving your best, at the end of the day, if you’re studying what you enjoy and living the life you wish to live, then you have achieved a success much greater and more emotionally satisfying than a high UAI.”