Advice to year 10s and 11s: A long informative rehash.

[Cinnah]

A Reflection on VCE, and some advice - Regurgitated from a blog post I'm working on while my site is under maintenance.
I know there are quite a few year 11s and some year 10s who frequent these boards, and I know there's a lot of advice out there already, but I've tried to summarise the most useful points for someone possibly having to deal with similar situations that I did, with examples from my experiences. I have gathered that this approach won't work for everyone, but even if you read it and disagree, at least you'll have identified what you don't want to do. I have listed the points around in a kind of cause and effect dialogue.

The subject fisasco
Last year, I wanted physics and got media. This year, I wanted history and got physics.
I can’t say that it was easy to make the decisions I did, and to follow through with them, but I feel an enriched person because of it… My advice is to do what you love. It is easier to balance a science and a folio than two folios, and you should never feel as though you need to forefeit what you love to scale your marks. If you do well, you don’t NEED scaling: you’re already at the top.
I am not recommending stepping out of your comfort zone in year 12 at all. If anything stick to what you know. I was thrown in the deep end, and I slowly taught myself how to doggy paddle through survival instincts. There are certainly other people who were in similar situations to me, and flourished much greater than I did due to intensive work. With that said, there were many others that had to set fire to the plans they’d made for whatever reason, and had a much more terrible time than I. When something like what I experienced happens, it’s a great discouragement, and although it can be worked through, you do feel cheated if things go sour. Don’t disadvantage yourself.

Working hard and not at all
Year 12 is not easy on the work load. Nobody expects it to be. How I managed? I admit I usually didn’t, by everyone else’s measure. I didn’t have teachers on my back. For the first time in my life, people weren’t demanding work from me. And I absolutely loved it. I only did what I felt adequate, no more useless homework assignments telling me things that I already knew and understood. By this stage, know what works for you.

Nobody but you knows where you stand, the work I didn’t do probably would have helped, the work I DID do certainly helped, because I knew it would. I was more engaged in the work I did, because it was work I knew I needed to do, and usually wanted to do. Given the freedom to assess and plan according to efficiency was the greatest skill gained and used in VCE. Surpassing the days of rote learning enforced through strict regime was the best thing that happened to me. I didn’t burn out, and I didn’t slack off. I can’t wait until university (or tafe, or working full time, if that is what happens), and the future is bright.

I guess it depends on what school you go to and its atmosphere, and how much faith your teachers have in you, not to mention where your dreams lie. It’s a balance between teachers trusting you to do your work, and them knowing if you want to be pushed hard enough to get a 99.999999999999999999. I think my teachers realised I had a head on my shoulders but was tired of work. They didn’t give up on me, but they had learned as I had, that I was doing what worked best for me and not for them. They already had their degrees, and I knew what I had to do to go and get the ones I wanted. You need to figure out where you want to be.

So yeah. When I recycled the past two years’ work after all exams had passed, I knew that my pile was large, but not as large many other peoples’. And I knew exactly why, and I had no shame at this fact. I was adult and mature in how I handled VCE, and I will take my score, whatever it may be, with equal understanding. It is over, and I strategised and tried to enjoy it. And that is what that matters to me. Even if you want to do biomed, try to make the lead up something exciting and enthusing. Don't make yourself hate the work you want involved in your profession. That'd be silly.

Counting down days
I never had a study timetable. Not even when exams rolled out. If I had something I need to do, I wrote it in my planner. If I had a sac coming up, I wrote it in my planner. If I had to study, I wrote it in my planner. And If I had a party coming up, I wrote it in my goddamn planner. Chamber Choir? Planner. Debating? Planner. Gaming? Planner. I have grown a reliance on school planners, because they tell you exactly what you felt you needed to remember… and my short term memory is ridiculously stupid. I colour coded subjects in ways that made sense to me, and used the leftover colours for stuff not relating to school. At a glance, without my glasses on, I could tell what needed attention. When I actually read what I had written, I knew exactly what those things were. I could never use study timetables. I don’t know how it’d be possible for me to pre-determine what work I’d need to do and how much. Sure, constant studying of all subjects works for some people, but not for me. It never has, and like I said, year 12 is about what you know works for you. Year 11 is when you try colour coding and reading while exercising and flow charts on your ceiling to read before you sleep. By year 12, you can’t waste your time on ridiculous experiments. You need to know yourself.

The fine line between leisure and pain
I never gave up what I loved doing to chunk in more study time. I needed balance. The best way to do this is to do subjects that you know you’ll enjoy. By incorporating the things that interest you in the subjects you do, often, your hobbies and interests will interact with those subjects. If you are studying something that interests you, it is more likely that you’ll be paying attention.

Reading
I didn’t read a single novel for ‘leisure’ this year which is unlike me – an admitted bibliophile. However, I was studying English and Literature this year, so I already had the ability to read both classics and contemporary works throughout. Sure, I had no choice because the texts were prescribed (I hate Austen so much), and sure, I had to answer piles of relating comprehension questions, but I never had to ‘give up’ reading, nor enriching myself through reading. I read in class, I read at home, and I enjoyed most of the texts that I studied. I also had, for this year, a Fortean Times and The Age subscription, paired with the occasional perusing through webcomics on breaks. It was these things that kept me informed, intrigued, entertained and contsantly learning more in areas that sadly aren’t exam related. If you like reading, look into comics that are updated regularly: they will get you through some tough times. And stay away from MSpaintadventures until you graduate, because it will eat your time and and your brain.

Drawing
I didn’t draw as much as I wanted to, but with that said, I churned out a combined 80 pages for my Studio Arts folio. It got me an A, but more than that, I built my skills in portraiture and general design. Considering I want to BE an industrial designer, this was probably a good choice. Not as good as say, Visual Communication and Design would be, but as I said, VCE is about what you are comfortable with, and I have the rest of my life ahead of me to build skills for my chosen profession. Doing Studio put life into my timetable, and gave me a reason to struggle through the more mentally exhaustive work of some other subjects. Any drawings (or art) I created this year up until term 2 ended, was put into that folio. And the subject matter of the folio was what I was interested in, so it never ended up a chore to continue adding to it. I grew with it, and it reflects me. And now it’s what will get me into the university of my choice. What more could I ask for?

Science
I remember watching TED talks here and there in the good old times, where I had enough time to research, but really, it was physics that drove home my understanding of the universe. Aside from watching some of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos on the ‘holidays’ (read: study without classes), physics classes helped me make sense of things. The amount of eureka moments I that I had were innumerable, and the amount of questions I asked was equally intimidating. I cannot stress enough how important it is not to blindly roll around in a wallow of pseudoscience. Please choose subjects that intrigue you. As an ‘artist’ (for lack of a better word), the sciences, especially physics, open my mind to understanding how what we see actually works. Light and matter interactions. The way the universe holds itself together. Relativity and special relativity. Never think art and science are mutually exclusive. The overlap is large, and inherently intriguing. Many of the greatest artists were more caught up in the science world than the art world, as the scientific world is a construct beyond all human creation.

Music and Public Speaking.
Don’t forget the extra curriculars your school offers. Most groups meet once a week, and debating was something like once every few weeks. Whether it be sport, music or drama, make sure to take hold of what your campus can offer. Time at school doesn’t always have to be classroom education. Doing choir and chamber choir ever year of highschool taught me music skills that I’d have not had the opportunity to learn otherwise. I got to be a part of a group that went beyond year levels and academics. What mattered in those practices were team work and commitment, much like debating. The Arts Nights my school would host were something that I will probably never experience again, and debating and public speaking was a way to improve confidence, speaking skills, meet new people, and learn the intricacies of current affairs. Debating was something that kept my teammates and I close. Something that created understanding. And something that I always considered a challenge more than a chore. This kind of highschool experience is something that I can take with me wherever I go. Public speaking skills also helped me get good marks in subjects involving writing and speaking tasks, because I've developed a strong authorial voice to match my speaking style, and it's something I would certainly advise.

Humanities
I lost out on the Russian and French revolution, but that’s okay. Learning is constant and unrelenting. I’d already studied the Russian Rev last year, as I had time for extra work, and I have the rest of my life to learn about France, if it ever interests me more than all of the other magnificent things to learn about history and culture. I have been a history enthusiast for much of my life, and greatly admired the teacher of the class, but at the same time, I wouldn’t let a single year of not having a class of it stop me. There is a revolution here and now, and at our fingertips. The world is changing and we need to be aware individuals. The humanities matter to everyone.

Gaming and Socialising.
Oh man. The part of my life that VCE didn’t involve itself in was probably the best. Gaming is obviously something to be enjoyed, and I made damn well sure to not give it up. Sure, I gamed less than I wanted, but I still gamed. And because most of my other areas of interest were covered, gaming is where it was at, when I made time for it. Once every few weeks, I got together with friends and nerded out, playing traditional boardgames, RPGs and the like. Occasionally, I’d have a LAN of Unreal Tournament with my brother and some friends. If I wasn’t seeing my friends for games, I would be to stay up one night of a long weekend watching terrible movies, going to someone’s 18th birthday celebration, going out for a nice dinner or just getting out for some fresh air. I regret nothing of these times, they have helped shape me as a person. I could have been studying when I engaged in all of those things, but I could have also been learning herb lore from a tribe of forest Druids. We choose the path we lead, and I didn’t want to forefeit growing as a person to the tremendous fear of failure that has admittedly otherwise made me a workoholic. Can’t get enough of that workohol.


If any other graduates think of anything else, by all means, add to the list.

[iloveschool]

COUNT ME IN TO THAT LIST!

i dont regret anything i did that could of been spent studying.. because although our atar may be 20 points lower than if we spent all our time studying, we can look back at those days in year 12 and remember the fun times of going to parties and gaming with friends, rather than remembering all the stressing and hair falling from our heads onto our desk.. lol +1

[Stick]

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom, Cinnah.

As a Year 10 student going into VCE (although I have done one 1&2 already), it is amazing just how daunting the next two years look. Your words made me realise I need to enjoy the journey, rather than worry about arriving at the destination.

Maybe you could include a paragraph or two about pressure from others (and yourself). In many families, parents are very pushy and place a lot of unwanted stress on their children and this can be hard to cope with. Peers can also question your game plan for VCE too. Personally, I tend to learn better after something has been taught to me, along with a lot of repetition, but some of my friends are able to work ahead of class and can understand concepts with much less practice. A lot of kids also have their own goals and expectations they place on themselves and they can actually be their own worst enemies.

Very encouraging words of advice. I'll be sure to take this into account.

[Cinnah]

In many families, parents are very pushy and place a lot of unwanted stress on their children and this can be hard to cope with. Peers can also question your game plan for VCE too. Personally, I tend to learn better after something has been taught to me, along with a lot of repetition, but some of my friends are able to work ahead of class and can understand concepts with much less practice. A lot of kids also have their own goals and expectations they place on themselves and they can actually be their own worst enemies.

Thanks Stick, glad it helped.

I talked more from personal experience here, rather than of other stuff I knew about.
My attitude towards VCE might've helped ease the stress levels for me.

My parents, although knowing that I've been an 'academic student' my whole life, just wanted me to (sometimes patronisingly) 'just do [my] best'. I know there are lots of kids out there whose parents put a lot of pressure on them, for several reasons. My advice is that even though a lot of people can make it through under the pressure, it's better that you lay it straight with your parents in the beginning. I told my father straight out not to expect results like what my brother raked in. And I told him the reasons. And then we understood eachother, and it was worth the discussion. One of my best friends was pushed because she had ability, but really, deep down, she wants to be a chef. Her parents won't let her 'waste' her ability. They say there is time to cook once she makes buckets of money. It really depends on where your priorities lie.

As far as friends, it depends who you hang out with. Some of my friends are crazy high achievers, others are, to put it simply, rebels without a cause. And it's okay to have all kinds of friends. Despite it all coming down to numbers, you are your own person. You dictate your means of progression, and you control your results. Having a good mix of friends is great for times where you're in the mood to get stuff done, but also times where you need to take a breather.

I was one of those kids who worked ahead up until year 10, but then I found some teachers (grumble: maths) telling me not to, so I got out of that habit. It's a good habit, but not necessary. The courses are sometimes silly, but they are structured to your benefit. If it's necessary to work ahead, your school is doing it wrong.

And as I said in the super long posts, it's absolutely vital to know where you stand and where you want to be. Not so much your exact profession, but as teenagers everyone should be trying to discover who they are at the current time. I am not saying to drop everything and move to the wilderness in search of your soul :p Just understand what makes you happy, do subjects which involve those things. If you're a goal setter, the longest terms you should be thinking of is what uni courses you might want to apply for. It's nice to dream, but work over and around your obstacles without creating new ones.

[jane1234]

The subject fisasco
Last year, I wanted physics and got media. This year, I wanted history and got physics.
I can’t say that it was easy to make the decisions I did, and to follow through with them, but I feel an enriched person because of it… My advice is to do what you love. It is easier to balance a science and a folio than two folios, and you should never feel as though you need to forefeit what you love to scale your marks. If you do well, you don’t NEED scaling: you’re already at the top.
I am not recommending stepping out of your comfort zone in year 12 at all. If anything stick to what you know. I was thrown in the deep end, and I slowly taught myself how to doggy paddle through survival instincts. There are certainly other people who were in similar situations to me, and flourished much greater than I did due to intensive work. With that said, there were many others that had to set fire to the plans they’d made for whatever reason, and had a much more terrible time than I. When something like what I experienced happens, it’s a great discouragement, and although it can be worked through, you do feel cheated if things go sour. Don’t disadvantage yourself.

Just to add to this:

Think about your subject choices CAREFULLY, and how they might affect your score. Personally I changed my subjects at the beginning of the year, and it was a rushed decision that I didn't think through very carefully. Consequently, I kind of regretted the subject change and I know that it might have hurt my ATAR a bit. So if you are thinking about changing any subjects, just make sure you think about it carefully, and definitely don't do anything because you think it'll be 'fun' - because trust me, not much in VCE is fun...
So yeah, don't make any rushed subject changes, because you just might spend the year regretting it...