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Struggling with year 12

I’m struggling to keep up with assignments and most work.

I’ve asked teachers for help and extensions where necessary and just this week they’ve said to all students they can’t give extensions on any classes for any work. Despite giving us 3x the workload we’ve had all year.

So I’ve tried communicating to my councillors and teachers I’m struggling along with other students and we’ve heard nothing.

Our study centre and spaces are so loud even with headphones you can’t hear yourselves think. This includes libraries and other spaces. 
So most of us are trying to get work done at home which is working for most people but for me it’s difficult since my home life is extremely toxic. 
I’m not allowed to leave the house, even if it’s to study and I can’t stay for the after school study sessions.

So I’m kind of panicking since I don’t have a support system at all. All I want to do is pass but honestly feels impossible.

Any advice or tips would mean so much, hope you have a good day 🙏.

Mint_Snail
Mint_SnailPosted 09-08-2024 06:25 PM

Comments

 
Catlover101
Catlover101Posted 11-08-2024 08:43 PM

Hi @Mint_Snail

I am sorry to hear how you are feeling right now. That sounds like a super tough situation and I am proud of you for your resilience and determination to keep trying and talking to your teachers and counsellors.

Remember to breathe and take a step back and reflect on how well you are doing getting this far into the year. Year 12 is so difficult but it will finish. 

If you teachers and counsillors are unresponsive maybe you could try and take it up with the principle?

Study wise, is it possible to study in any empty classrooms (if there are any) instead of the study centre?

If you have a yard maybe studying outside at home could be helpful?

You are doing great and I am proud of you for sticking to it. You are strong and capable of more than you know! Good luck with year 12 and make sure to reward yourself for all your work 🙂

 

 
snazzy_pigeon
snazzy_pigeonPosted 11-08-2024 02:42 PM

Hey there @Mint_Snail ,

I think it's safe to say that at least 99% of the population of Australia fully agree with the fact that Year 12 is hella sucky. As someone who is a proud member of that 99%, you are completely valid in how you are feeling this year and I'm so sorry that your counsellors and teachers aren't providing you with the proper support you need for this year. 

A fact that kinda comforted me in my final year of high school is that literally no one cares about your marks after Year 12. Even if you don't get the score you need for university, you can always go back and apply a couple years later when they don't even consider your score anymore. I've said this many times on many of my posts but in the end p's 👏 get 👏 degrees 👏.

In regards to lack of support, if there a way you could maybe talk to the principle? Or to someone more higher up in general? I also like what @PeelingOranges said about getting a group of people to talk to the librarians about the noise cause in the end the library should be a studying space. It's a long shot but maybe you could see if they could organise a silent study room for the Year 12s? 

In the meantime, something you could do to drown out the noise is to put ear plugs in your ears and then have headphones on tp of those ear plugs. I believe Chemist Warehouse sells these disposable ear plugs for real cheap and while it may be a bit uncomfortable, it could help you focus. 

 

I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help. Please remember to take care of yourself during this stressful time. You'll get through this and (thankfully) it's only temporary. Good luck with your studies!

 
zoo_girl
zoo_girlPosted 10-08-2024 02:22 PM

Hey @Mint_Snail

 

I'm sorry to hear that you are having a tough time. Year 12 is really hard, especially when you have lots due at once. You should be proud of yourself for reaching out to help and for asking for support at school, and its tough that your teachers haven't provided additional support yet.

 

I also struggle to study when there is surrounding noise. When I was at school, I would find a quiet corner of the oval or an outdoor space and read my work out loud to try and help me focus. I am not sure if you have the option to get to school early, but I also found it was much more quiet in the library before school.

 

When I had a big workload, I found it helpful to write down what I had to get done, prioritise the tasks, and identify what was reasonable in the time I had. That helped me to not procrastinate and get the most important tasks done first, even if I couldn't do everything. 

 

You are so close to the finish line, even if it feels impossible, you have the skills to get there and you have already done so well. You've got this!

 
Mindful_Dreamer
Mindful_DreamerPosted 09-08-2024 10:27 PM

Hi @Mint_Snail

Thank you for expressing what you are going through and reaching out for help; we are all here to support you through this challenging time and help you in any way we can.

 

I am sorry that you are not having the greatest environment at home to study, that would be very frustrating and the fact you can't stay after school hours for study sessions would add onto that frustration, almost like there aren't any other ways of getting through. I have been there myself. High school can be challenging, especially the pressure of Year 12, but it is great to see that you are being proactive in finding a way to get through and haven't given up. So good on you, and you should be proud of yourself for getting to the last year of school! Woohoo! 🥳

 

I want to share something that might come in handy with you. Smiling Mind has a page exclusively for students going through Years 11 and 12 and how they can cope with the ups and downs. They made this resource available during the pandemic, but it has a range of videos on self-care and other important topics, as well as tips and activities you can do that could help you through this time. I swear by Smiling Mind; I use their mindfulness app all the time, but again, what works for me might not work for you, so give it a try and see how it helps you, makes you feel and if you enjoy it. 

 

Feeling It Year 11-12

 

I would also suggest you speak to a coordinator or a leader in your school who could raise this with the rest of the teachers because sometimes teachers can be a bit difficult, let's say, or busy, but that is not a good enough excuse not to support or listen to their students. Have you tried bringing this up with someone who is above your teachers? 

 

I hope this helped a bit, and remember you are not alone. I am currently finding tafe challenging as well, but we will get through it! We are always here for you, so feel free to post on the forum anytime. Be safe, take care of yourself and chat soon 😊💜

 
Be_the_Light
Be_the_LightPosted 09-08-2024 09:08 PM

I’m so sorry to hear that you are going through such a tough time @Mint_Snail 

It sounds like you are dealing with a lot of stress and pressure especially since the increased work load and lack of support from your teachers and counsellors. It sounds like it has become difficult to focus on your studies in this environment.

 

It might help to find a quiet corner at home where you can create a space to study for yourself even if it is a small area. Noise cancelling headphones or calming music could help with some distractions. Additionally, setting small goals that are manageable for each study session may make things less overwhelming. I’ve always found breaking things into tiny chunks helps me feel a sense of accomplishment and also using checklists can be motivational! 

You may have already, but it may even help to reach out to your peers who are in a similar situation. Sometimes having a study buddy or someone to talk to about your struggles can be supportive and motivating. 

Remember that it is okay to ask for help and take breaks when needed! Mindfulness, meditation and going for walks can be great when you need to take a step back from your studies. Your well-being is incredibly important so you are allowed to prioritise your self-care. Hang in there. You are doing amazing! If you ever need to talk, we are always here to listen. Take care and keep pushing forward! 🌻

 
PeelingOranges
PeelingOrangesPosted 09-08-2024 07:56 PM

Hi @Mint_Snail , thank you for reaching out about your stress!

Year 12 is a tough year for so many reasons, and I can hear that a lot of different factors are starting to compound all at once for you. Just wanted to say first of all that you've done really well trying to communicate with your counselors and teachers, and trying to find effective places to study. I can see you really care about doing good this year, but the environment and lack of support is making that a challenge. 

I'm wondering if there are any spaces around your school that might be unconventional for studying, but could be quieter than other places that have a lot of people? I used to hide away on a bench behind the cafeteria when I wanted some peace and quiet. 

Also, how would you feel about getting a group of people together to perhaps pursue the noise issue with your librarians? The library is really meant to be a quiet study space, and I'm sure there will be other students who feel the same way as you. Perhaps if enough people raise the issue, they'd be willing to enforce that rule more harshly (but I don't know your school's situation, so sorry this if this is not feasible).

I'm sorry to hear that you're handling a toxic family environment at the same time as all of this. If you don't mind me asking, do you have a private space you can retreat to at home where you won't be bothered by others? 

Overall, it sounds like both school and home are very stressful for you right now, and you're bouncing back and forth between them without a space you can feel supported and able to tackle your studies. Amidst all this, I'm wondering if there are any strategies you might be using to help manage the stress and negative emotions? It might not be a direct fix for any of the practical issues you're facing, but looking after yourself is important for making sure you have the strength to keep pushing forwards😊

 
Marimo-RO
Marimo-ROPosted 09-08-2024 07:23 PM

Hi @Mint_Snail,

Welcome to the ReachOut Youth Community!

Thank you for sharing what's been going on for you. Year 12 can be an intimidating year for many students especially with having to adjust to a larger workload. While it sounds quite discouraging to not have received any response from your teachers yet, I'm really glad to see that you have proactively sought assistance from your teachers and counsellors along with other students.

I can see that you have been doing your best to find a quiet study space for yourself and I'm sorry to hear that you have also been trying to manage a toxic home life. Having to balance so many things on your plate can naturally lead anyone to feel stressed and panicky. I'm wondering if you feel able to do something for yourself during these moments? 

If you're seeking direct one-on-one support, Headspace offers a study mentoring program via video calls, webchat or over the phone. Kids Helpline can also offer free 24/7 counselling over the phone or online.

We also have a range of resources here on exam stress and school and study. Here's one on how Amy found her own way through the year 12 exams.

We will also be sending you an email. Please keep an eye out for it! 

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