At just 13 years of age, Narrabeen Sports High School student Maiia Salbieva is the youngest public school student to sit an HSC exam.

Currently in Year 10, having started at the school at the young age of 10, she now has HSC Advanced Maths under her belt.

Due to her parents being on a bridging visa at the time, Maiia was home schooled for her primary years, completing the curriculum at her own fast pace.

“Year 7 was a struggle, as I didn’t many friends at the very beginning of the year. I spent a lot of my time studying in the library and didn't do many extracurricular activities,” she said, noting she was the second shortest person in the whole school.

“But I gained confidence because I was at school and ended up blending in and made friends along the way.”

While Maiia appreciated the new experience of having teachers and other students in class learning with her, she found she was also well ahead in Year 7 maths.

“I realised I knew everything that they were talking about and I was bored. The school put me in the year 8 class, so then I was learning new stuff,” she said.

Then next year, Maiia joined an accelerated program, doing Year 9 maths in Year 8, and tackling HSC maths in Year 10.

However, Maiia is what deputy principal Tracy Postle describes as ‘talented across more than one domain’, as she excels academically and in tennis, requiring a High Potential and Gifted Education plan to enable her to succeed.

“We also meet regularly with the high potential gifted education team to make sure that things are working for Maiia,” Ms Postle said.

This plan, along with remarkable time management skills sees Maiia balance 20 hours a week of tennis training, leaving school at 12:30pm three days a week, with her studies.

“I train for five hours straight but also ensure that I keep up with all my schoolwork. I don't like to get behind on any work,” Maiia said.

With an interest in marine biology, Maiia is planning on studying science and playing college tennis in the US after finishing high school – when she will be 15.