2010 - 2020

Bianca Russom- Academic

Class of 2014

"Since I left HKHS, I have achieved a lot - primarily in academia. I graduated HKHS in 2014 with my HSC, ATAR and a Cert II in Animal Studies that I completed through the TVET program. In November 2014, I started working at a local pharmacy in Gosford. From February 2015, I attended Western Sydney University in Richmond undertaking a Bachelor of Science (Zoology), majoring in Marine Biology. I graduated at the end of 2017 with distinction, and as a Dean's Merit List recipient in 2016 and 2017. Throughout 2017, I volunteered with a teacher of mine doing some work on drugs in our environment. In addition, from 2015-2016, I decided to complete a Cert III in Community Pharmacy (Dispensary Stream) through the Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW Branch as a traineeship to further my skills at work.

In 2018, I commenced a Master of Research at Western Sydney University, studying the presence and impact of illicit drugs in the environment. This followed along from the study I volunteered on during my undergraduate years, with the same teacher also now my supervisor. At present, I am completing my Masters degree, and I am employed by Western Sydney University as a Casual Academic in Environmental Geochemistry, where I lecture, supervise, mark assessments and run laboratory practicals. I still work at the same pharmacy in Gosford on weekends and I commute to my university in Sydney from the Coast because I cannot bring myself to leave the lifestyle and the community.

I had three standout teachers during my time at HKHS: Mr Holland, Mr Guyot and Mr Ardley. All three of these teachers saw potential in me and encouraged me to pursue my dreams. I had Mr Holland during my junior years, and he would always encourage my love of science, particularly marine sciences. I had Mr Guyot for Chemistry in Year 11 and 12, and he too always encouraged me to continue to do what I love: Science. I had Mr Ardley for five of my six years of high school, for both Junior History, but notably, Earth & Environmental Science. He would always provide me with helpful feedback which I still use to this day - he taught me how to answer a question and problem solve, and got me interested in a field of science I had never previously been exposed to. My favourite subjects at HKHS were Japanese with Ms Laffan (in Stage 4 and Year 9/10 combined with the French class), HSC Biology, HSC Chemistry and HSC Earth & Environmental Science."

The teachers and subjects that were most influential:

"I had 3 standout teachers during my time at Henry Kendall High School: Mr Holland, Mr Guyot and Mr Ardley. All three of these teachers saw potential in me and encouraged me to pursue my dreams. I had Mr Holland during my junior years, and he would always encourage my love of science, particularly marine sciences. I had Mr Guyot for Chemistry in Yr11 and 12, and he too always encouraged me to continue to do what I love: Science. I had Mr Ardley for 5 of my 6 years of High School, for both Junior History, but notably, Earth & Environmental Science, and he would always provide me with helpful feedback which I still use to this day - he taught me how to answer a question and problem solve, and got me interested in a field of science I had never previously been exposed to.

My favourite subjects at HKHS were Japanese with Ms Laffan (in S4 and Yr9/10 combined with the French class), HSC Biology, HSC Chemistry and HSC Earth & Environmental Science. "