WALKING across the Great Hall at the University of Newcastle at just 16 years-old will be a core memory for Ella Lewis.
The year 11 West Wallsend High School student graduated from the High Performing Students program along with 29 others from high schools across the Hunter on Tuesday, July 30.
"I got to put on a gown. It was very nice I actually loved it. To get to walk across the stage at 16, it's definitely an amazing memory for my entire life," she said.
The High Performing Students Program gives talented high school students like Ella, the opportunity to get a taste of tertiary education by undertaking first year university courses while still at school.
Ella said she spent three hours every Friday over the course of one semester to conduct her extra studies on top of school work and her social life.
"You had to make sure you had a pretty good schedule and be really organised," she said.
"I'm very happy and grateful that I had the opportunity to indulge in this course at my age. It gave me an insight into the real working life."
"It's set me up to see what life looks like when you're studying, working and doing extra curricular activities. It shows you how to juggle."
Year 9 Merewether High School student Aditi Arun Jois studied HUBS - foundations of health and disease, and said the course opened her eyes to what she would like to pursue when she leaves school.
"I like health and sciences and wanted to get a taste of what the subject was like as well as develop an understanding of what learning is like at a university level," she said.
The program is delivered at Merewether High School and provides students with opportunities to fulfil their academic potential, help with career decisions, and can lead to credit for university studies.
"Ever since I was little I always wanted to make sure that I own my own business and still have that same ambition today and the entire course will just help not only myself now, but my future career," Ella said.
"The experience has made me quite excited to experience university and learn more about my interests in depth," Aditi said.
