Question 1: Do you have a Tax File Number (TFN)?Yes: Good on you. If it's been a while since you last saw the letter with it, you should go dig it out of storage. You'll need it soon.
No: Apply for one. From memory, it can take up to 6 weeks to get one and it's usually pretty busy this time of year! You'll need it for higher education loans and/ or work, so hop to it! You can check
this link to start your application.
Question 2: Did you give up any sleep during your exams?Yes: Time to get your sleep regime in check. Remember that
regular sleep hours are as important as sleeping long enough. Please seek professional help if you need it for your sleep habits.
No: Congrats! I wish I had your sleep habits; teach me your ways.
Question 3: Did you forego your exercise regime for Year 12/ exams?Yes: Time to get back to it! If you didn't have one before, it's probably a good time to set up healthy habits. Start small and build up to bigger goals.
No: Great work! Keep it up!
Question 4: Did you give up any hobbies during your exams/ Year 12? Yes: Time to revisit them. Check out that show you missed, that game you stopped playing, the book you only got halfway through, that article you wanted to write for AN
... the list goes on. (I'll provide a longer list of ideas outside this spoiler at the end of the post.)
No: You can find a new one if you like, such as a new sport, art/ craft, skill, language, etc.. You could even help out here on AN so that future Year 12s can benefit! You could write an article, reply to a post, make a guide for your favourite subject, review your subjects and so much more. (See the list of ideas outside the spoiler at the end of this post.)
Question 5: How's your mental health? Are you OK after exams?Yes: That's good to hear. Remember it's OK to be not OK.
No: It's OK to not be OK right now. Please seek help from a mental health professional, if possible. There's also helplines like Lifeline, Beyond Blue and Kids Helpline that you can talk or chat online, most of which are free.
Question 6: Have you seen your friends in a while?Yes: Nice! This is also a great time to meet up with them, catch up with old friends, or even make new ones.
No: Time for a visit/ meet up when they're done with their exams!
Question 7: Was there any skill you wanted to learn/ teach yourself but never had the time e.g. learn a language, coding, investing, cook a certain dish?Yes: Time to pull out that list and get on top of it.
No: Plenty of time to figure one out and attend to it!
Question 8: Have you got your Ls or Ps?Yes, I have my Ps already: You're super organised!
Yes, I have my Ls already: If you're on your Ls, get those hours up and attempt for your Ps. You might be eligible for a free professional drivers lesson with
Keys2Drive, which I'm pretty sure is a national program. If you're closer to getting your Ps, then there are practise Hazards Perception Tests for most states, or the
DriveSmart program, although I'm not sure if that's Victoria only.
No, I haven't started on my driver's license: This is a great time to get started and start on some practise tests to get that sorted.
Question 9: Are you and your friends are bored and seemingly have nothing to do still? Yes: You could do a version of Schoolies, if you like. Travel somewhere closer if you don't want to go far. Alteratively, you and your mates could just do some activities during the day e.g. head to the beach one day and a movie the next.
No: Rest up and relax, with or without your mates. You deserve it!
Question 10: Have you cleaned out and organised your room?Yes: How organised!
No: You probably should, as well as sell off any books that aren't going to be passed down or kept. You could potentially have the good ol' post-Year 12 bonfire if the weather permits.
Question 11: Do you have a job and/ or volunteer?Yes: Great! Keep at it. Work and volunteer experience is pretty crucial these days.
No: Time to apply and/ or volunteer then! Don't give up hope, because you'll most likely get rejected more than a few times before being successful.
Question 12: Do you have everything for a job or volunteering position you're looking towards e.g. a current First Aid Certificate, Police Check, RSA, Working With Children Check?Yes: Good work. Will be useful if you're applying or not yet volunteering.
No, and I'll need it: Time to hop to it! Not going to get very far without them.
No, but I don't need it: Fair enough. Keep applying for jobs/ volunteering. It takes a while to be successful for jobs.
Question 13: Are you relatively set in your course preferences and/ or career goals?Yes: That's great. You could potentially get ready for it, if you like.
No: It's OK to be unsure. If you don't really have any preferences down or are unsure, it's probably time to do more research or get in contact with people and/ or institutes that can.
Question 14: Have you got a good list of things to do now?Yes: Time to get cracking on that list.
No: Time to revisit the questions again. Surely there's
something you can do!