• Footscray, Yarraville, Braybrook Star

By Alesha Capone

26th January 2010 11:05:18 AM

 Purchase this photo from Star Photos

In tune … When Simon Xu is not stroking the ivory, he’s hitting the books. 41894 Picture: PAUL JEFFERS

---

SIMON Xu hit all the right notes when studying for his Victorian Certificate of Education, gaining an almost perfect ENTER score of 99.75.

This success has earned him a scholarship to begin a double degree in Commerce and Science at Monash University this year, with Finance and Pure Mathematics as his majors.

Last week, Mr Xu was among former Year 12 students and aspiring tertiary scholars across the state who found out which university courses they had been accepted into.

The young Maribyrnong resident said he had to choose between studying Mathematics or music after VCE.

“I enjoyed Maths all through school,” the 18-year-old said.

However, he was also considering a career as a pianist.

Mr Xu began music lessons when he was three years old and has since entered many national competitions and was a finalist in the Yamaha National Piano competition in 2005 and 2007.

But he decided there were more opportunities in Mathematics and instead of auditioning for the famous New York musical institute Julliard, became the sole recipient of a Business and Economics scholarship from Monash for 2010.

“I was really happy and it took a while to sink in,” he said.

Mr Xu said he studied hard throughout his VCE but tried to lead a balanced lifestyle.

While at Scotch College, he was captain of the table-tennis team, helped run a VCE advice and forum website and he still tutors other students to prepare them for Year 12.

Before deciding exactly what his future career will be, Mr Xu also hopes to complete a PhD in America and attend Harvard.

---

Popular Stories