EXAMS, essays and hour after hour of study is enough for most year 12 students, but for Jarett Boorn, it was just another challenge in his every day life.
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The Bendigo Senior Secondary College student recorded an ATAR of 97.2 – the second highest at the school – all while acting as the carer for his mother, who lives with an acquired brain injury.
Jodie Boorn was involved in a car crash in 1990, leaving her with a mental disability, depression and anxiety.
Since a young age, Jarett has supported his mother through daily tasks after school, from doing extra chores and helping with her menial tasks, to providing emotional support.
Mrs Boorn said her son had been an immense support, even as he completed year 12 physics, chemistry, mathematics and English.
“He’s just always available, he never says no when something’s asked of him,” she said.
“He’s very good at talking me down if I start to cry, when everything is too much. He’ll stop and talk to me until I’m alright again. He’s just fabulous.”
At the end of every school day, Jarett would spend hours studying at his desk. He would even take his books on family outings, while always on hand to support his mother in their Golden Square home.
His commitment to his studies earned him BSSC’s Professor Struan Sutherland Memorial Science Award for top science student, while topping three of his subjects.
To top it off, he did not miss a single day in his last two years of school.
Jarett said his interest in science, and the support of teachers, helped him to achieve his goals.
“It was a lot of hard work, the quantity of work I had to do was probably the hardest part of it all,” he said.
Jarett joined two groups run through Bendigo Health – Kids With Confidence and Young Carers – receiving support and helping other young people in the city who act as carers for their family members.
He kept in regular contact with about 15 other children in a similar situation in Bendigo, a group he said were a massive help as things got tough in year 12.
Having completed his final year at school, Jarett will remain in Bendigo as he pursues his science studies at La Trobe University.
The university offered him the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Scholarship, allowing him early entry into a Bachelor of Science.
Jarett’s mother and father couldn’t be prouder.
“He’s just worked so hard, it’s an amazing achievement,” Mrs Boorn said.
“It shows that even if you’re in the same predicament, if you really put your mind to it, you can achieve anything.”
