Xavier's Montanna Mathews and Ebony Kannenberg offered La Trobe entry

Xavier High School students Montanna Mathews and Ebony Kannenberg were accepted to study sport science and law, respectively, at La Trobe University (Melbourne campus).

They were accepted as part of the university's Aspire Program, which rewards students' involvement in community, leadership and volunteering.

Montanna said keeping up at school this year had been challenging, but she'd still managed to maintain her involvement volunteering for the St Vincent De Paul Society.

"I'm a part of the Vinnies group at our school," she said.

"That includes cooking for our local charity care van and we just recently did our Vinnies winter appeal and sleep out and we raised over $11,000."

But Montanna said studying was like riding a roller coaster.

"We go into lockdown and then we're not allowed at school, and then we go back to school," she said.

"It's just trying to adapt to all the changes that have been happening and trying to stay motivated."

Montanna said the early entry had provided her certainty and clarity in the "crazy" year.

"[It's] closure of some sort, knowing that you have that for next year, so you've got an idea of what you've got in the future," she said.

Similarly, Ebony said the biggest challenge for students was the uncertainty.

"Not knowing any definite answers, and even still everything is so uncertain with our exams pushed back," she said.

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"Hopefully that's locked in place now, but again we just don't know, and even the uncertainty of when we're going to go back to school."

Ebony said another struggle was students not knowing if they would be able to see each other again before their final school year was finished.

"I've spoken to some of my friends and I know that that's been a struggle for them as well," she said.

But Ebony said her early entry offer, which she received through her volunteer work and fundraising for Relay for Life, and through her role as school captain, was a "sigh of relief".

"It makes me feel a bit more comfortable, even just in myself to know I can still try my hardest and I've got a good path ahead of me," she said.

"Early entry is a great for any year, but especially for our year, it's a safety net to fall on because it's one of the only certain things in an uncertain year.

"So its been really good."

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