Class of 2024 DUX Speech – James Murray

James Murray Dux 2024 – ATAR 99.25

Good morning students, staff, Mr. Miller, parents, and distinguished guests.
It is with great pride and gratitude that I stand before you today to share a few words as the Dux of the Class of 2024.

First, I want to thank everyone who has supported me on this journey.
To my incredible teachers—thank you for sharing your knowledge, for dedicating your time both in and out of the classroom, and for patiently enduring my incessant question asking.
To my parents—thank you for your support, for encouraging balance in my school life, and for tolerating my incurable procrastination. I couldn’t have done this without you.
To the school—thank you for providing me with the opportunity to follow my goals. The welcoming, supportive environment at Chev helped me make friends, have fun and enjoy my learning.
And to my friends and peers—thank you for six unforgettable years. The friendships, the shared struggles, and the memories we’ve created will stay with me forever. I will truly miss this chapter of our lives, and I wish you all the best for whatever the future holds.

To the current Year 12 students, I want to share a few pieces of advice that helped me through the HSC.

Time Management is Everything.
Set realistic study goals and stick to them. Studying every day is what matters.
For me, SILC was a great resource. Everyone studies differently, but I found it to be the place where I could work at full capacity with minimal distractions. I will always appreciate Mr Hargreaves’ tireless dedication to keeping us quiet and on task, even if I didn’t feel like studying at times.
To manage your time effectively, I recommend using a timetable or spreadsheet, especially before exams. Seeing how you’re dividing your time across subjects will ensure you’re not just focusing on your favourites.

Make Meaningful Notes.
Rather than simply copying everything from the board, focus on writing down key concepts in a way that makes sense to you. Good notes should be something you can return to and use, rather than something you need to rewrite.

And Look after yourself.
A consistent sleep schedule and regular exercise—in whatever form that may be—is just as important as study. I really valued my soccer and basketball with friends during the HSC, which not only helped with stress, but formed more unforgettable memories.

And of course, no speech would be complete without a quote. As famous physicist Sir Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
So, to Chevalier College—thank you for the strong, generous shoulders you have provided me with. Best of luck to all students in the years ahead, and thank you.