The HSC may look and feel different this year in an ever changing COVID-19 world, but not stressing out completely boils down to two core things, past students say.
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Two of last year's school captains, Theresa Miloar and Giaan White, say having belief in yourself and in the process will get you through to the other side unscathed.
Giaan, Tamworth High School's captain last year, says it's important to put things in the bigger picture, and know there are always more pathways to where you want to go.
For Theresa, Peel High's captain, she received the school's highest ATAR score last year and says as long as you put in the work, you will see those results - so fight for what you want.
Trust yourself
"One thing for me, was to focus on the marks I got for each individual subject and take pride in that," she explained.
"The ATAR gets graded and is basically just an average of everything, it doesn't reflect how well you did in each subject - so be proud of those individual results instead."
She took a gap year after completing her HSC in 2019, but had to return from England after just three months due to the pandemic.
Working as a student liaison support officer, and on the weekends at The Longyard, she will take another gap year if possible before going on to study physiotherapy.
While her heart goes out to the current students, she says life will always be unexpected, and it's important to understand things will not always go in a straight line.
"I think for me, my HSC was really about finding the whole balance. So many people stress about the HSC and exams, but you need to work on your mental, physical and social health to make the balance work.
I know so many people who got affected after the HSC because they put so much stress into it, and then it was over and they felt aimless.
- Giaan White
"I know so many people who got affected after the HSC because they put so much stress into it, and then it was over and they felt aimless."
Focusing on her extra curricular activities as well, like water polo, being school captain just as two examples, has helped her future more than a number will.
"Having that connection to community, personal hobbies, leadership programs, public speaking - having those things you never talk about, the dots you need on your resume that are vital, that give you experience, that's what you're bosses are looking for if you're not going straight to uni."
And even if you are going straight back into study, pathways exist.
I knew that I wouldn't get the ATAR mark to get straight into physio but I wasn't stressed about that, because I had other experience I could bounce off to get into the course I wanted to do.
- Giaan White
"I knew that I wouldn't get the ATAR mark to get straight into physio but I wasn't stressed about that, because I had other experience I could bounce off to get into the course I wanted to do."
Trust the process
"During this year with COVID, everyone needs to appreciate all of the work they've done now, how they've got to where they are, especially in an environment that is changing all the time."
Talking from the army base in Canberra, Theresa says it's about having trust in the process as well.
Focus on the things you can control, and let everything else sort itself out.
"You have to remember to trust the process, and if you put in the work you will see the results," she says.
"But also find out what works for you ... I am an aural learner, so I have to speak and hear to learn something, so find the right study fit for how your brain works."
You go through your 12 years of schooling so it's the end game for that, but it's not the final end game, there is still whole life of leaning you have yet to go through.
- Theresa Miloar
Studying virtually at the University of Sydney through online courses, hopefully temporarily, Theresa says she knew what she wanted and was going to get into aviation - either for the air force or as a civilian.
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"I definitely think I did stress too much, but at the same time it was the first time I was going through that - and can see why I did and why students especially now would be as well," she noted.
"But the people who helped me along the way made me realise that it isn't the end of the world either. That's what we need to emphasis.
"You go through your 12 years of schooling so it's the end game for that, but it's not the final end game, there is still whole life of leaning you have yet to go through."
