"English is a compulsory subject to take for the HSC and it must count in your ATAR". This is a quote I remember hearing in year eight and immediately after I started feeling extremely overwhelmed by how a student who was averaging Cs in English assessments could achieve a band four in the HSC. In 2022, I graduated with two band sixes in both English Advanced and English Extension One. Teachers do not emphasise the importance of developing a strong foundation in skills such as analysis, analytical writing and understanding the purpose behind assignments. Thus, in my teaching, I try to develop a genuine interest in English within students through achievable, understandable, yet still complex topics."