A former Blaxland High student is one of 18 impressive young writers from the 2019 HSC to have their major works published in the annual Young Writers Showcase anthology.
Matthew Frith produced an extended essay for his English Extension 2 class about science fiction author Philip K Dick, whose 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was adapted for the screen to become the hugely successful 1982 movie Blade Runner.
The Mt Riverview student was fascinated by Dick's two central themes: what it means to be human and what is reality, and how these important questions could play out in nightmares. Matthew said the author's entire world view had been shaped by the death of his twin sister early in life. "He thought that she should have lived and he died. Self-loathing and drug abuse, that affected his career," Matthew said. "He was quite a tortured soul."
Matthew was pretty chuffed to think that his work would be one that next year's English Extension 2 students would be looking at in the anthology when they're formulating their own works for assessment.
"It's also good in that sense to have it be published. It's a nice reward for the amount of effort that goes into it," Matthew said.
The 18 year old said writing was a hobby, and he is now studying communications at the University of Technology Sydney, majoring in digital and social media.
The anthology, produced by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), is a showcase of some of the talented English Extension 2 students from last year's HSC.
NESA CEO Paul Martin said being published as a young writer is an extraordinary achievement and one that will hold these students in good stead for the future.
"These pieces of work not only showcase the students writing ability, but what the students know, how they perceive the world and what is important to them - revealing just how mature their outlook is," Mr Martin said.
"These 18 young writers from 17 schools across the state, have been selected from more than 1500 students who studied HSC English Extension 2 in 2019. It is wonderful to see them celebrated."