The Importance Of Having Heroes in HSC

Feb 27, 2018

They say “work until your idols become your rivals,” however are we choosing the right idols to strive towards? Are we placing the Olympic gold medalists, billionaire authors and tech giants of the world in our career crosshairs, or choosing a much more humble pathway?
 
Our idols should stand at the top of their field as an exemplar of hard work and dedication. They should challenge us, motivate us, and inspire us to work towards success. However, many of us choose those we know as our heroes. In fact, over 75% of HSC CoWorks students cite their parents as their idols, and of the remaining 25%, most choose school teachers over highly successful entrepreneurs. Whilst these choices are admirable (and entirely valid), we should also choose a few industry leaders, who’s paths we can follow to realise our dreams. 

CHOOSING A ROLE MODEL 
 
Look outside the realms of family and friends, and instead look to those at the very top of your desired field of work. That’s not to say that you can’t admire your family and their work, but unless they hold your dream job, you should also find someone more relevant to your career aspirations. 
 
 If you have a dream of swimming professionally, the likes of Michael Phelps and fellow Olympic champions should stand at the top of your list of heroes. If a career in the technology sector is more to your liking, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates would be the greatest role models you could wish for. Whatever your desired industry, the options are endless for choosing a hero.  
 

FOLLOWING THEIR FOOTSTEPS 
 
Once your heroes are clear in your mind, work towards their success. Study their journey, habits, and work. Through this, you may find a Student Key Behaviour that will guide you on your path. 

Take the writing path for example — Stephen King has published almost 100 books, sold more that 350 million copies of his work, and has had many of these adapted into movies and TV shows. Forbes sets his income at around $40 million per year, so as an aspiring writer, you’d be crazy not to view him as a hero. 

 

 
King has a very famous habit that ties in with his success — he is committed to writing 2,000 words a day, every single day, and “only under dire circumstances do I allow myself to shut down before I get my 2,000 words,” he said. Through this method, he finishes a 180,000 word novel in 3 months — impressive! 
 
 
REINFORCING YOUR VISIONS
 
Daily reinforcement is key when it comes to motivation and determination, and one of the best ways to instill this is through the creation and display of a vision board. Print pictures of your heroes at the pinnacle of their success, and gather and display their quotes and advice. You could also feature their works, as well as their habits, their awards and their achievements — whatever will motivate you best. 

Then, work with those successes in mind, with the mentality of rising to their level. 

 
You know it’s possible, because they have shown GRIT, and done it before you. 
 

TOOLS

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LITERARY TECHNIQUES

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TEXTS AND HUMAN EXPERIENCE

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Module C - The Craft of Writing

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PDF of our planning pad for download

PDF of our Mind Map pad for download

“Let’s Talk About the HSC”

The ultimate podcast for students and parents navigating the journey of the HSC. Presented by HSC CoWorks, each episode dives into the challenges and triumphs of the HSC experience, offering expert advice, study tips, and insights into achieving academic success.

Whether you’re preparing for exams, managing stress, or looking for ways to stay motivated, this podcast is your go-to guide for all things HSC. Join us as we chat with educators, students, and professionals to help you thrive during this important academic milestone!

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🔥 FINAL HSC STUDY BOOTCAMP

Finish your HSC campaign with zero regrets, knowing you gave it everything you had.

Our final Study Bootcamp of the year is all about making those last few weeks count.

🔥 Boost your productivity with focused, structured exam training.
💡 Stay motivated alongside other students pushing towards their goals.
✅ Get exam ready with unseen questions, practice under pressure and accountability to tackle those ‘frog’ subjects and tasks you’d rather avoid!
⏰ Four focused hours each day, supported by HSC CoWorks coaches who know what it takes to navigate the final stages of the HSC.

📅 Monday 28 September - Friday 2 October (ALMOST FULL) and Tuesday 6 October - Friday 9 October
⏰ 10am–2pm
📍Balgowlah, Bondi Jct, Chatswood, Mosman

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🔥 FINAL HSC STUDY BOOTCAMP Finish your HSC campaign with zero regrets, knowing you gave it everything you had. Our final Study Bootcamp of the year is all about making those last few weeks count. 🔥 Boost your productivity with focused, structured exam training. 💡 Stay motivated alongside other students pushing towards their goals. ✅ Get exam ready with unseen questions, practice under pressure and accountability to tackle those ‘frog’ subjects and tasks you’d rather avoid! ⏰ Four focused hours each day, supported by HSC CoWorks coaches who know what it takes to navigate the final stages of the HSC. 📅 Monday 28 September - Friday 2 October (ALMOST FULL) and Tuesday 6 October - Friday 9 October ⏰ 10am–2pm 📍Balgowlah, Bondi Jct, Chatswood, Mosman

For most Year 12 students, Trial Exams are officially behind you! 🎉 Take a few days to switch off, reset and enjoy the feeling of having made it through!

Then it’s time to turn your attention to the final stretch. Trials aren’t meant to be perfect. They’re exactly what the name suggests, a trial run for the real thing.

So embrace the mistakes. Look closely at where marks were lost. Get feedback. Work out what needs to change and adjust your approach.

The next few weeks aren’t about starting again. They’re about refining, improving and building confidence from everything you’ve already done.

You’ve come this far. You’ve got this. 💪

#HSC2026 #HSCTrials #HSCStudy #Year12 #HSCTips

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Open post by hsccoworks with ID 17887635177450005
For most Year 12 students, Trial Exams are officially behind you! 🎉 Take a few days to switch off, reset and enjoy the feeling of having made it through! Then it’s time to turn your attention to the final stretch. Trials aren’t meant to be perfect. They’re exactly what the name suggests, a trial run for the real thing. So embrace the mistakes. Look closely at where marks were lost. Get feedback. Work out what needs to change and adjust your approach. The next few weeks aren’t about starting again. They’re about refining, improving and building confidence from everything you’ve already done. You’ve come this far. You’ve got this. 💪 #HSC2026 #HSCTrials #HSCStudy #Year12 #HSCTips

Celebrating 30 years of HSC CoWorks! 💫

In 1996, @fergusgardiner started working with a small group of HSC students in Bondi Junction. His ability to inspire a genuine passion for learning particularly in English quickly saw that small group grow through word of mouth.

Fergus’ wife @carollgardiner alongside their son @jesseperformancecoach and his wife @sarahgards7 joined the business as it grew, helping to establish campuses in Mosman, Chatswood, Lindfield, Dee Why and Balgowlah. Jesse and Sarah now lead the organisation alongside an incredible team of more than 100 coaches, markers, teachers, an amazing Head Office and Web Development team, and also Emily and Nick who joined our team this year. There have been plenty of ups and downs, milestones, obstacles and lessons along the way, and HSC CoWorks wouldn’t be where it is today without the incredible people who have been part of it over the years.

And to every student who has walked through our doors and every parent who has trusted us to play a part in their child’s education, THANK YOU. Your support and trust over the past 30 years means more to us than we can say. We are so grateful to have worked with your child during the most important stage of their schooling career and thank you for championing our program as we strive to support young people develop the skills, habits and mindset that will support them long after their HSC.

And of course to our own family, especially our three children who put up with having both parents in the business and many weekends and evenings spent around the dinner table building new ideas, solving problems, packing study toolkits and everything in between!

We’re incredibly proud of what has been built over the past three decades, but even more excited about what comes next.

Thank you,
Jesse, Sarah, Fergus & Carol Gardiner

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Open post by hsccoworks with ID 18153572545519445
Celebrating 30 years of HSC CoWorks! 💫 In 1996, @fergusgardiner started working with a small group of HSC students in Bondi Junction. His ability to inspire a genuine passion for learning particularly in English quickly saw that small group grow through word of mouth. Fergus’ wife @carollgardiner alongside their son @jesseperformancecoach and his wife @sarahgards7 joined the business as it grew, helping to establish campuses in Mosman, Chatswood, Lindfield, Dee Why and Balgowlah. Jesse and Sarah now lead the organisation alongside an incredible team of more than 100 coaches, markers, teachers, an amazing Head Office and Web Development team, and also Emily and Nick who joined our team this year. There have been plenty of ups and downs, milestones, obstacles and lessons along the way, and HSC CoWorks wouldn’t be where it is today without the incredible people who have been part of it over the years. And to every student who has walked through our doors and every parent who has trusted us to play a part in their child’s education, THANK YOU. Your support and trust over the past 30 years means more to us than we can say. We are so grateful to have worked with your child during the most important stage of their schooling career and thank you for championing our program as we strive to support young people develop the skills, habits and mindset that will support them long after their HSC. And of course to our own family, especially our three children who put up with having both parents in the business and many weekends and evenings spent around the dinner table building new ideas, solving problems, packing study toolkits and everything in between! We’re incredibly proud of what has been built over the past three decades, but even more excited about what comes next. Thank you, Jesse, Sarah, Fergus & Carol Gardiner

The HSC matters. But what students build along the way matters even more.

The HSC year is your training ground for life.. where you can develop skills like how to plan ahead, take ownership, tackle challenges, respond to feedback and perform under pressure.

These aren’t just skills for getting through Year 12. They’re the skills, mindset and habits that you will take with you into university, work and whatever comes next.

At HSC CoWorks, our role is to provide the structure, support, coaching and accountability that helps students develop these capabilities, while working towards their HSC goals.

#hsccoworks #hsc2026 #hsc2027 #hscstudyskills #hscmotivation

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Open post by hsccoworks with ID 18141126814573634
The HSC matters. But what students build along the way matters even more. The HSC year is your training ground for life.. where you can develop skills like how to plan ahead, take ownership, tackle challenges, respond to feedback and perform under pressure. These aren’t just skills for getting through Year 12. They’re the skills, mindset and habits that you will take with you into university, work and whatever comes next. At HSC CoWorks, our role is to provide the structure, support, coaching and accountability that helps students develop these capabilities, while working towards their HSC goals. #hsccoworks #hsc2026 #hsc2027 #hscstudyskills #hscmotivation