Advice for those in their final year of schooling
The key to Year 12 is balance… in everything
Year 12 — or any final year of school — is one that offers many challenges for students going through it. But I think that the hype about it does more harm than good. So this week, I wanted to address the senior class of 2023.
“Hi seniors. You’ve got through to your final year of school. Well done!
I’m sure in the last few weeks, you’ve heard all the speeches about how important it is and that you must work hard. And yes, that’s pretty true.
But I think there are some important things to do, other than mega-study, to make sure you do well this year, and, more importantly in the years after school.
Let’s start with a basic mantra that I think will set you on the road to the right destination. “Don’t prewrite your year 12 story, before you live it”.
Don’t pre-decide what’s going to happen this year, such as an expectation that you must get specific results to get into a particular career, or the year is ruined. Sure, have results as an ambition, but be very careful of seeing that as the only acceptable outcome of the year.
Many roads lead to a good life for you. In fact, many people who don’t get their first choice at university or with an apprenticeship, end up in a career that suits them much better.
It is essential that you keep up a balanced life this year. It will be tempting to drop everything and just study, but this is a mistake.
You need to be doing a range of things to keep you in good mental health. You must study, but you also need to do different activities, and have some leisure time.
If you live a sensible life now as you study, then you are more likely to get into a course and career that enables you to keep living a satisfactory life.
Why? If you need to quit everything to study 60 hours a week to get into your dream course, it is likely that the course is going to be somewhat hard for you.
Extreme study is going to mean that you’ll probably have to keep working long hours to keep up with your peers who didn’t need to study so much to get the same marks.
You are much better to do a realistic amount of schoolwork as well as other things, such as keeping up your extracurricular activities, earning some money in a part time job, and still spending some time with your friends and family.
It might be tempting to think that everyone in the family needs to cater to you in this significant year. But it is not going to make the year pleasant — for anyone.
Everyone has their own stuff going on. Try to work together and be typically considerate. You have a right to be a bit cranky occasionally, but you have no right to take it out on others.
Make sure you regularly do some chores. Tasks such as vacuuming will help you come back to your studies somewhat refreshed and is a bit of a posture break. It will also make your relationship with your family smoother.
Have a frank conversation with your parents about what will happen post-school. Get a good understanding of their expectations in terms of what the rules will be if you continue to live at home or take a gap year, and what they will and will not pay for.
Most importantly, appreciate the year. Relish the chance to challenge and stretch yourself. Savour your last year with your school buddies and teachers. And enjoy the crazy ride that is year 12.”
Takeaway for students
Make sure your senior year includes these things.
· Team sports combine physical activity and friendship. Keep them up.
· Get enough sleep or your academic performance will suffer.
· Try to plan some do-nothing time.
· Schedule screen-free time, and try to do more relaxing activity such as reading printed books for pleasure.
· Keep up activity such as walking the dog every day, or simply walking around the block, as a break. Some of your best essay ideas may come from head phoneless ambling.
· Schedule time with your family, e.g., a movie night every weekend.
