After 13 years of formal education, the prospect of adjusting to life outside of school can seem challenging, but Hayley Blake said she's ready for the next step.
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"It's a bit crazy that most of your life is school and that's all that you know and it's come to an end," she said.
"I'm looking forward to venturing out but also looking forward to starting a new career in event management."
The Gungahlin College student was one student of more than 100 honoured at a ceremony on Tuesday held at Llewellyn Hall on Tuesday, recognising some of the ACT's top students.
For the first time, the ceremony was held on the same day as the release of students' Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), the score used to determine university admissions.
Students at the ceremony were honoured for their academic achievements as well as community service and work in vocational education.
Hayley, who received a vocational award, completed seven certificates in her last two years of schooling, and is looking to do an advanced diploma of event management next year.
"It was nice to find out [I had got the award], and it was a lot of hard work doing all of the courses but it was just as rewarding."
More than 4500 students from the ACT completed their year 12 studies this year with more than 2700 qualifying to receive an ATAR.
Almost 30 per cent of students in 2019 chose a secondary pathway, which focused on qualifications leading to post-school training or alternative ways of getting into university.
Among them was Canberra College student Ella Dransfield, who took part in the school's Big Picture program, which allowed her to carry out internships and on-the-job training across a range of industries.
She said the course has allowed her to get a place in nursing at the University of Canberra next year.
"I never thought I wanted to be a nurse but I learned a lot about myself through the program and discovered that it was a career option."
While many students received their results for their subjects and ATARs on Tuesday, graduation ceremonies for many colleges are set to take place later this week.
Figures also show 1696 students this year were awarded a vocational qualification and 242 received an Australian School-Based Apprenticeship as part of their studies.
A further 173 students were involved in extension courses studied at university.
Ella said the coming days would see a range of emotion from graduating students.
"It's going to be hard to say goodbye, because those students and teachers were a large part of the journey," she said.