A humble and reserved student when he started at Davidson High School in 2019, Declan Budd remains much the same today.

But his unassuming demeanour hides a remarkable determination and drive that will take him all the way to the swimming world championships in Singapore later this month.

The 17-year-old was given a surprise send-off from his teachers and fellow Davidson High School students last week as he wrapped up his Year 12 studies and started preparations for the biggest swimming meet of his career.

“He's actually no different today,” said principal David Rule, who has been at the school throughout Declan’s six-year journey.

“He's found something that he was good at, that he was passionate about, but the difference really is he was prepared to make a sacrifice to get it, and that's something that we're really proud of.”

It has rarely been straightforward for Declan who competes in the Para Games S14 classification because of cerebral palsy and an intellectual disability but he prefers to focus on what he can do, rather than what he can’t.

In a sporting sense that took him to the senior national swimming championships in June, where he finished second in the 200-metre freestyle multiclass final to punch his ticket to the world titles.

In a school and life sense, the attitude remains the same.

“Sometimes you feel like you're not going to get your schoolwork done – but you get it done,” he said. “You just have to put in the effort”.

As Declan rapidly improved at swimming it became obvious that he was destined to be a high performer. With that came tougher training regimes and a greater ask of his time, opening the door to study remotely or elsewhere.

But never one for the easy option, Declan took what he believed to be the best option and stayed at Davidson High School where he could be amongst his peers, supportive teachers and a strong community.

“He’d probably have a better excuse than anyone with 4.30am starts, but he turned up every day – just a fantastic role model,” Mr Rule said.

And once Declan made that decision the school played its part, working with his parents to come up with a study plan that would still enable him to complete the HSC.

Completing a construction certificate as part of his studies, Declan says he is most likely to pursue a career as a carpenter.

“I think I’ll get on the tools, you know, I just can't see myself sitting in an office,” he said with a laugh.

But first there is the matter of his swimming career, and the world championships where is his goal is a personal best “and to leave nothing in the tank”.