As final exams roll around and ATAR season looms, it’s easy to feel like your entire future rests on one number. The pressure is real! We understand… but here’s the truth: your ATAR might mark the end of school, but it doesn’t define how you begin your next chapter.
At JMC Academy, we believe that talent, curiosity and creativity can’t be summed up in a score. That’s why all of our courses are ATAR-free, because the creative industries don’t ask what you got in maths or English. We’re more curious to find out what you can make, what you care about, and how you can bring ideas to life in a way that moves people.
You’re more than your marks
Exams measure what you remember, not who you are. Maybe your brilliance lives in a sketchbook, a melody, a game concept, or a film idea that’s been growing in your Notes app all year. Those ideas matter because they’re proof of your imagination, persistence, and problem-solving skills.
At JMC, we see these traits every day. Students who once questioned their place in the creative world now find themselves performing at Laneway Festival, designing animation for global campaigns, composing film scores, or producing podcasts that reach thousands. None of them were defined by a number, but by their willingness to start, to experiment, and to learn.
What to remember during exams
1. You’ve already achieved more than you think.
Reaching the end of Year 12 is an achievement in itself. You’ve navigated deadlines, late-night study sessions, self-doubt, and countless moments of growth. Many of our students arrived at JMC with stories just like yours, driven not by results, but by curiosity. They wanted to take their creativity seriously, to build something that reflected who they were. That decision alone is a huge success.
When Audio alumnus Callum Howell walked through JMC’s doors, he couldn’t have known that just a few years later he’d be producing and mixing for artists like Ocean Alley and The Rions. His story reminds us that achievement doesn’t always look like a scorecard. Sometimes, it looks like showing up, learning your craft, and building something from the ground up.
2. A bad day isn’t a bad future.
Everyone has an off day. Maybe an essay didn’t go to plan, or a question caught you off guard. That doesn’t erase your potential. It simply reminds you that one test can’t define a lifetime of learning. Many of our graduates, from award-winning sound engineers to independent filmmakers, didn’t follow a traditional academic path. They found their success by following what genuinely inspired them, not by chasing a score.
Take Mel Jarnson, a JMC Acting alum who went on to star in international productions like Mortal Kombat and Australian series Harrow. Her journey, like so many others, wasn’t linear. It was built on perseverance, confidence, and a belief that creative work is about growth, not perfection.
3. Look after yourself.
It’s easy to think you need to push through exhaustion to prove you’re doing enough. But creativity thrives on rest and reflection. Eat well, take breaks, step outside. Even during the busiest production weeks, JMC students make time to collaborate, to recharge, to laugh. That sense of community is what sustains real creativity and it’s something you can practice now.
Animation graduate Felicity Staunton, now Executive Vice President of Production at Animal Logic Entertainment, has spoken about the long but rewarding journey of bringing stories to life. Her career is a reminder that success in the creative industries comes from consistency and care, not exhaustion.
4. Keep perspective.
This moment matters, but it’s not everything. You have years ahead to explore, to learn, to create, and to redefine what success looks like for you. The truth is, your ATAR won’t tell anyone about your passion for storytelling, your eye for design, or your drive to make music that connects. What will define you is what you choose to do next and how you keep showing up for your own ideas.
Film & Television alumni Tom Mahoney and Liam Fletcher, founders of Teel Studios, began with short student projects and went on to create a production company that tells stories for clients across Australia. Their success didn’t hinge on high school marks. It came from vision, teamwork, and the courage to keep creating.
Your future is built on passion, not pressure
If you’re someone who wants to create, collaborate, and bring imagination to life, there’s a place for you here. Our courses in Music, Audio, Animation, Game Design, Film, and Entertainment Business Management are all designed to turn creativity into career paths, with no ATAR required.
So take a breath. Trust what you’ve learned. And remember this is just one page in your story, not the whole book.