- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Mark Topic as New
- Mark Topic as Read
- Float this Topic for Current User
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Printer Friendly Page
Post Exams: Thoughts and Advice?
Hello everyone!
Exams for year 12 students are starting to wrap up, and many university students are starting their end-of-year assessments. I wanted to start a conversation about what it means to have climbed the study wall and see what’s next on the horizon. What’s one thing that you know (or wish you knew) about the end of exams and school? What nugget of wisdom would you like to pass on to those wondering about what happens next?
We ran a Weekly Wellbeing about this topic last year with some amazing contributions from school leavers about where they are in life after year 12. We also have some great pieces of advice from @Rara below.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Comments
This is such a great post! I think we often focus too much on pre-exam advice, when often the time after exams can be very overwhelming too!
I think it is so important to remember that there are so many more options for change and flexibility in your future than you expect - you don't have to pick one thing and stick to it. There are jobs and degrees and pathways i never knew existed!
Love this post! I felt so many different emotions during my school studies, and now as a post graduate uni student planning on a masters next year, it's been really interesting to reflect.
- In year 12 I had a lot of things going on on top of my studies, and for anyone that feels like they're drowing in problems, it is totally okay to put your studies as a second priority to take care of yourself. Despite what many teachers say or do, your health and your mind are so much more important than a study score, and while I think you should still work as hard as you possibly can, nothing is worth neglecting yourself and your health.
- Post school is so much fun! I used to always use the idea of being 'free' from school as a motivator to just try my absolute hardest for a few months so I could then relax and enjoy my time, and to of course be proud of all your efforts. I also think the summer after my year 12 ended was possibly one of the most enjoyable summers I've had so far, look forward to that!
- Whether you go to uni, tafe, around the world or straight into a job, keep in mind that your are still so young and have your whole life ahead of you. There is no one single path you 'should' be going down. Everyone has their own plan (or if you don't that also ok!), and yours definitely does not have to live up to the expectations of others. Take your time! It could take you years to figure out your path, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Hope this helps someone who might be struggling at the moment 🤗
Thanks @Stormy-RO ! I imagine this post will be helpful to a lot of people right about now.
Looking back at the hecticness of year 12 and even the first few years of uni I'd say:
- Take care of your physical health!!! Ensure you're eating enough and sleeping enough consistently (thinking of all the all-nighters). It makes the HUGEST difference to your mood, energy, ability to function and of course ability to learn!
- Grades are not everything. I can't tell you how many times I heard this but it really is as true as it is mentioned. So don't be super critical of yourself if you make mistakes or if things don't go as well you wanted. There is more than one way to get where you want to - many people transfer courses or unis after the first year. All you can ever do is your best, and as long as you keep moving forward and figuring things out as you go, that is enough.
- Extension of the above point: grades are not everything AND there are so many other parts of your life and yourself that have the potential to be meaningful and important to nurture. You only get to be in this unique position once, so try to make the most of and appreciate your friendships, family, your increasing independence, hobbies and passions.
- There is no one "right" way to do things. No matter what your parents say, what your siblings have done before you, what all your friends are doing or what is "expected". It makes sense that sometimes we can give into other people's expectations because that's all we see and we depend on our small circle when we are young. But soon you'll see there is a huge world out there with people who don't fit that specific mould and are living their lives by their own standards.You are the only one who has to live your life, which means you are the only one who has to deal with the consequences. So choose how you want to live your life and live it in a way that speaks to your inner joy.
Good luck to anyone who has exams coming up!! You're doing great, take it one day at a time and the holidays will be here before you know it 💞💞
Thank you @Stormy-RO for this post! I'm not technically a grade 12 student but I'm going through some tough times with my assessments as well! Thank you everyone for giving such great tips and advice too💕
This is a great post @Stormy-RO ! Definitely something I wish I had come across when doing my HSC. Here are 3 things I've learnt/ wish I knew earlier as someone who has finished high school and university:
1) Even if you don't get the ATAR you want, it's not the end of the world! There are soooo many different pathways to get to your goal.
- I have a lot of uni friends who have completed one degree and then transferred/ started another one that was unrelated to their first one.
- I also met a lot of mature age students who have had a whole career but decided to return to uni to explore another career option/ passion.
2) Don't forget to take breaks and take care of yourself!
- Mental health and physical health are strongly linked! I've had instances where I didn't get enough sleep/ exercise/ food and I noticed that I got very grouchy and snappy.
- I get that it's easy to feel guilty when taking breaks but I've noticed that after even a 10 - 15 min break, my mind is more receptive of the content I'm studying.
3) Don't neglect your social life!
- Allow yourself to enjoy high school/ uni life! Make new friends, join clubs etc.
- Having social supports to talk to really helped me to alleviate stress and anxiety.
Good luck everyone with your assessments!! You've got this!! You're almost done!!
As someone who finished school a few years ago, I often reflect on those final stages of the school year. I remember year 12 being overwhelming and increasingly pressure, year 11 a pressure to pick subjects that will get me a good result for uni but also what those subjects will do for the rest of my life and along with so many relationship challenges along the way.
However, there were some amazing positives and here’s my advice for those at school, leaving school or out of school.
No. 1. Those final few weeks of each semester are always the best and take a moment to enjoy it (some of my best memories are from the last few weeks).
No. 2. The subject you pick and your results do not define you and never well
No.3. No one journey is the same, there are so many pathways to get what you want
No.4. Society can tell you one thing but you don’t have to listen, yes it is hard but if you don’t like it or the way it’s done, do it your way
No. 5. Adjusting to the change of no school can be hard, all of sudden you have no structure and have so much control of your life
No. 6. It’s not always sunshine’s and rainbows there are hard and overwhelming days
No. 7. But most importantly YOU GOT THIS!!! No one especially in their 20s have it figured it out
Any school leavers or people have finished school, please share your experience, worries and advice 💛💛
Hi @Rara
Thank you for this post, I think it will be really helpful for so many people in the online community in this forum. I also finished school a few years ago and I remember that I put a lot of pressure on myself and everything was very overwhelming, but in the end, everything turned out okay.
I love these 7 tips/advice you mentioned I think the two most important points are to just enjoy yourself and that it is okay if you don't have everything figured out, even in your 20's! Everyone is on their own path and it is not a race. It's important to take things one at a time and not put pressure on yourself to succeed.