HSC Top Achiever Alessia Savi of the IGS Class of 2025 achieved the extraordinary results of First in State for both Italian Continuers and Italian Extension while still in Year 11.
The high achiever who loves languages also excelled in Spanish, achieving first place at IGS for Spanish Continuers and HSC Italian Extension at the 2025 IGS Speech Night.
Alessia first joined IGS in Year 4 and recalls being “instantly warmly greeted”. She gave credit to a number of her former teachers as being a great support to her.
“I’m very grateful for my parents’ decision to send me to IGS where my love of languages could be shown,” Alessia said.
“IGS has given me the opportunity to explore other languages such as Spanish.”
Alessia took part in an “eye-opening” three-week IGS exchange to Madrid in Spain, making a life-long friend, Elena, along the way.
She followed up by accelerating in Spanish Continuers last year and achieving 92 per cent.
“I’ll always be grateful for the exchange opportunity and recommend it to anyone who studies the language.
“I value languages as they are a direct reflection of culture. I personally hold my Italian culture very close to me and have felt at home learning Spanish, another beautiful language.
“I believe languages are the gateway to the world as even though you don’t require them to travel necessarily, it gives you a different deeper perspective on the world and the countries that you travel to, allowing yourself to fully immerse yourself in the wonders of the world.”
We asked how she felt about being one of only 7 of 73,000 students in NSW to achieve First in Course in two courses.
“I am over the moon about my achievement. I put a lot of work into it trying to improve my writing, for example, and I’m glad that it has finally paid off.
“To have come first in both courses makes me feel like I made my culture proud and of course my parents.”
Alessia plans to move to Rome with her family to attend university.
“I set my mind on studying in Italy where I feel more at home and connected to my personal identity, hopefully studying Medicine at Sapienza University,” she said.
“I have the support of my amazing parents who gave me this opportunity in the first place… I will be forever in their debt.”
Alessia is very much enjoying being in Rome, having grown up in an Italian household where English was rarely spoken, she enjoyed homemade Italian food every night, and watching Italian tv shows.
“Being here in Italy feels so welcoming, a place where I truly fit in, with people who appreciate the same things and hold the same values.”
Alessia thanks her Italian teachers Prof Mustica and Prof Casu, who taught her since Year 7.
“Prof Casu has always been a driving force of motivation, always on top of things and truly gave not only me but all of us the tools to succeed.”
She also gives credit to COASIT for teaching her Italian in her earlies years, giving her a strong foundation of formal grammar not spoken at home.
“Finally, the biggest thank you to my parents who gave me this opportunity of learning and connecting with my background through language and lifestyle since birth.
“I am forever grateful that they instilled this in me and for all of the opportunities that they gave me, the support and love which contributed greatly to this success.”
We are all so proud of you, Alessia! Congratulations and best wishes for your future.
