How emotionally attached do you feel to your high school?

[Calebark]

How so, out of interest?

For a subject to run in Yr 9/10 (which is when electives start), there's a minimum amount of interest needed. Recently, even if there are enough people in an arts subject (say, 12 people for Graphic Design) but there's a STEM elective with fewer people (say, 7 people for Marine Biology), the STEM elective will get the spot. This is discouraging interest in arts subjects in those years, which is going to reduce interest in them as VCE subjects.

[Joseph41]

For a subject to run in Yr 9/10 (which is when electives start), there's a minimum amount of interest needed. Recently, even if there are enough people in an arts subject (say, 12 people for Graphic Design) but there's a STEM elective with fewer people (say, 7 people for Marine Biology), the STEM elective will get the spot. This is discouraging interest in arts subjects in those years, which is going to reduce interest in them as VCE subjects.

Yeah, that would certainly be pretty discouraging.

It sounds like your school has sick electives, though!

[Aaron]

I think the issue with electives is common all around. Schools have certain targets and directions (e.g. if the school is directed towards the performing arts, then clearly that is going to be the priority). I know when I did my VCE alot of subjects didn't run due to lack of interest.

Other factors such as resourcing/funding, specialist teacher to teach said subject (e.g. nobody can just walk in and teach something like game development or project-based STEM learning), timetabling etc.

The school I recently taught at ran classes with 1 or 2 students in them (quite rare). It is unfortunate that students have to seek alternatives e.g. Distance Ed to do the subjects that they are passionate about. I think that is the key to a successful VCE... doing things you are interested in whilst balancing the required subjects/scores to get into your uni course.

I know for me.. IT was probably one of the only subjects I was good at in school and even that took pressure to get running with 5-10 students. I think as well if a subject isn't running that a student wants... speaking up and saying something is good. If there's no comment about the subjects on offer, then that's an "everything is well" assumption and the same things will run each year. Obviously you would need to show interest (e.g. at least 5 other students).

If a student does subjects they don't really want to do but they have to given that's all the school offers... then of course the level of engagement and attachment is going to be lower because it's not stimulating/interesting in the slightest.

The reality is majority of government schools in particular suffer this problem in one way or another and it's very sad.

[appleandbee]

I resent my high school whenever I think about it, but I'm attached to it in the sense that it taught me what kind of person I don't want to be and whenever I contemplate what my beliefs are, my high school experience plays a major influence. Like deciding that I don't want to be the elitist/lean-in feminist, I found it weird that a public girls school sent the message that opportunities only come to us because we were intelligent to go such a school (and saying this as though this was an ideal situation for the feminist movement), instead of encouraging us to advocate for opportunities for all women especially the most disadvantaged ones. Towards my last years there, it also started going a little private school territory with the volunteer tourism and privilege saviour stuff. The school has been formative in shaping my career aspirations, and forcing me to re-evaluate why I wanted to study medicine/law, and what my interests were within those fields as it was the a very cliched/watered down/'just because...' career choice in my school (I bumped into someone from my school shortly after I finished high school who told me that my choice of course was 'bold' lol). It also has felt like a burden (although I have un/ subconsciously used it to get various opportunities), as I had to come to terms with my 'privilege', a concept that I'm not very comfortable with but it's something I'm very conscious of when I'm socialising with people from similar socio-economic upbringings to me or with volunteer work.

That said there are a few things about my school that I am quite proud of such as the progressive student leadership body in my year that really pushed for a lot of great changes such as the ability for students to wear shorts instead of dresses in the summer, gender-neutral language and demanding an apology for problematic rape culture comments that an assistant principal at the time made. Maybe there will be a time where I may want to reconnect with people from my school, I don't know. I've been recently contemplating joining the alumni association (which costs like $600) admittedly just for the career advice and networks (the real world is tough sometimes lol)...

EDIT: With my old high school though (the one before this one), I really wished that I could thank a few teachers/coordinators who really supported me and encouraged me to stay at school even when my life was a mess, even when I didn't attend classes because of everything that was happening at home as well as the stress from the police visits. Not everything at that school was great (I was even close to getting expelled), given what my life was like and how I was, but there were a few people that really tried and those are the ones you remember. Maybe when I'm in a less busy time, I'll visit and try to catch up with a few people if possible (I know that one of the coordinators is at another school now from recent searching).

[blasonduo]

Though in terms of individuals from school, of course I'm still emotionally attached to them- both staff and students. I live quite close to my high school so I would drop in once every 2-3 months and say hi.  I try to offer to help out my current Year 12 friends with their essays and assignments because it breaks my heart seeing them so stressed out.

Sadly, my school "introduced" this new policy that ex-students are no longer allowed to visit. At all.

I'd like to say that I was very connected to my school as a whole, but now its all changed, the school name, logo, uniforms, its like they wanted a new slate and nothing to do with us. It doesn't feel the same.

I agree, however, that I am still very connected with some teachers and students (our bio class even go on the rare bushwalk together!) The relationships that you build can never be forgotten and is very special to me.

[fantasticbeasts3]

When I was in year 12, I was always so excited to finish school - I just wanted to get out. Like beatroot said, I'm glad to be out of school in terms of the system, but I miss school as a whole lol. I started year 7 not really wanting to go to the school I went to - from a cultural standpoint (I'm Asian) going to a systemic all girls Catholic school wasn't where it was at lol. The group of friends I grew up with (outside of primary school) all went to selective schools, although we started in the same Catholic primary school and it kinda made me feel dumb so I was a bit resentful of the fact I had to go to this school.

Over the years, I started to really like the school community. (here's where I start crying because I miss my school) I think part of what makes a school a great school is the people, and by year 10 I was in a group of friends where we were really close, and I'd also formed really good friendships outside of that group.

In terms of school as a whole, I don't miss the "system" aspect, like I genuinely hated studying (except for Legal and Modern lol) and the idea of having to go to school everyday. I will never like how much emphasis was put on uniforms, bitchy girls and to a certain extent, the lack of diversity and clique-y stuff that went on. But I do miss the tight-knit community that was formed. I miss the teachers so much. I don't think great teachers are common across all high schools but I was so lucky that in my school I had the most amazing teachers over the years. I will never forget the friendships I've formed with some of the teachers. I will never forget the amount of support I had from them - the banter, the laughs, the tears (from me) yada yada.

I owe so much to my high school - it's definitely formed a huge part in who I am today. I came out of primary school really shy and not confident in myself and who I wanted to be, and even though I'm still the biggest introvert, my confidence has grown so much and I'm much more self-assured. I probably wouldn't have had this if I was intimidated by people in a selective school; I would've retreated into my shell and I don't think I would be the same person today. I still go back to school sometimes if I'm bothered - I went back I think two Wednesdays ago now - and although it's changed, it's fundamentally still the same and I always feel happy going back and passing my school on the train lol.

So yes, I feel quite emotionally attached to my school ahaha.

[clovvy]

I don't know for my case but maybe I will do one day.... I mean the school staff do truly cared for me, I can see that for sure... They really tried to keep me in when I have considered leaving school in the past and tried to keep the pressure of HSC off me and convinced me to finish off... regardless of my results they are still proud of me (at least that's what they say, I am still cynical with that type of statements tbh- again one of my bad character traits always being cynical as I do feel threatened quite a lot for some reason)

[Coffee]

High school generally, I’m still mourning the experience I never had.

In terms of my high school, I attended two. One from Year 7-10 and the other from Year 11-12. Technically I moved halfway through Year 11, so I essentially only had 1.5 years at my second school.

I feel more attached to my first high school for obvious reasons. I had a group of friends, I got on well with my teachers, and it was a very small school—somewhere around 220-235 people. In saying that I had a horrible time from Year 7-9 and things really only improved in Year 10 onwards. Of course, I still have some great memories from Year 7-10 which I’ll always cherish. Still, I regret going there altogether and I wish I went somewhere else where I might have had a more conventional high school experience.

I liked the high school I moved to in Year 11-12 and I liked most of my teachers. But I didn’t really make any friends, and my mental and physical health deteriorated pretty quickly in Year 12 so I really only have bad memories. So, I'm obviously not very attached to it.

[emilyygeorgexx]

I feel quite attached as well, considering I am in Year 12 still!

However, I do think about life after high school a lot. I feel like I will miss the structure to my life, since I like being organised and having a schedule to follow. I think I will most miss all my friends and the relationships I have built with my teachers, especially 2 of my teachers. I sometimes literally think about how I will actually not be able to cope without talking to them everyday which makes me low-key sad lmao

[clovvy]

I feel quite attached as well, considering I am in Year 12 still!

However, I do think about life after high school a lot. I feel like I will miss the structure to my life, since I like being organised and having a schedule to follow. I think I will most miss all my friends and the relationships I have built with my teachers, especially 2 of my teachers. I sometimes literally think about how I will actually not be able to cope without talking to them everyday which makes me low-key sad lmao

That is quite interesting indeed, I think I know a couple of seniors from my school who still keep in touch with teachers after they graduate ages ago (like 2016 and before)..

[S200]

Do you think this will continue after you graduate, S200?

Meh.

I mean, I'll still look back with fondness, but I prolly wont visit that often...
The school is moving campus next year, so most of my memories wont hold...

[owidjaja]

Hmm, kinda but not really. I'd be more attached to one or two really good teachers (my science teacher from the junior school was amazing, and my commerce teacher was a pretty chill guy). As for senior school, even though the teachers I have know me, most of them only view their students as results that can help them boost their ego (kinda like competing who gets the most amount of students with a Band 6)- whenever a class doesn't do well a lot of teachers compare us to other year groups and say we don't study. I'll probably miss my physics teacher because he's pretty chill and my friend and I like to talk to him about heavy metal, ridiculous physics/math concepts and video games.

As for the school itself- nahh not really. My school is surrounded by bushes with buildings that still made out of those red bricks you see on old houses. It's a small school filled with fake grass and old buildings (apart from our library and science labs) so it's not like there's anything attractive in the school. The only thing I'll probably miss is the cheap hashbrowns- my school sells them for $1 but Maccas sells them for $2 ;-;. But my school still doesn't beat my primary school price of 50 cents per hashbrown, nor does it have those amazing Hawaiian rectangular pizzas or the chicken chips.

[Lumenoria]

Pretty emotionally attached, I'd say. Not so much the work obviously, but rather, the the people, the general sense of community in the cohort. the teachers. Especially the teachers. My god, when I was on a downward spiral mentally in year 11, my English teacher (who happened to take me for both Adv and Ext), was there for me every step of the way. I never initiated it, she would legit reach out to me every few weeks or so - I never really understood how she could tell haha. But she was the only person there for me at the time, and she actually followed through with the "I'm always here for you" that not many people usually do. I loved her so much, and to this day, she is the only one who knows the depths of my twisted life. I have never felt, on an emotional level, so vulnerable in my life, and to this day, still haven't. She wrote me a long 1000 word email after she went on maternity leave wishing me well, and I read it on the occasion. Although, reading it tends to bring back haunting memories and I almost cringe that I was ever in a position of such weakness - but it was the nicest thing that anyone could've done for me then.

Actually, speaking of that, I read over the email the other day because it was sitting in my drawer and it made me feel like I'd come so far. I remember venting to her about how horrendous my marks were at the time (which may sound petty now as I was in year 11 then, but bear in mind that the bottom ranked half of the Advanced cohort would be forced to Standard for HSC and I obviously wanted to stay in Advanced). I was sitting on a mark in the low 70s, ranking 30th out of 67 people. She wrote: "Your mark places you in a competitive position for your HSC year. You work hard and will be rewarded for your dedications to your studies, Lumenoria." Looking back on that, now in my HSC year coming 2nd in English Advanced after being literally on the precipice of being dropped to Standard, made me feel all kinds of emotion. I love my current English teacher so much, but I wish she were my teacher too, so that she could watch my journey to recovery - a journey that she facilitated herself. She's back from leave now, but I cannot muster the strength to talk to her. Like, I've had interactions with her here and there, but mostly for academic obligations rather than casual conversation. I remember when she returned, I went to the English staffroom and she waved at me but I was too overwhelmed to even respond so I didn't say anything lol. It makes me lowkey sad, because I feel like it's been so long since I've had a proper chat with her that it would just feel awkward and I've already had so many chances idk. It's like I'm paralysed around her because I feel like she's looking through my soul, as ridiculous as that sounds - so I feel like I'm just mentally not strong enough to do it? I just want to know how she's doing as a mum and all. I really hope she's well. I really want to talk to her casually before I graduate. That would make my day.

So, clearly, I'm quite emotionally attached. I've had 2 other teachers who have been equally as awesome - I love them but the nature of these relationships have been far less personal - which in a way makes it easier for me to talk to them about trivial matters. My English Advanced teacher now is honestly the most incredible woman I've ever met - she's so opinionated and funny. She perpetuates her feminist agendas in her ways of education that make us think of ideas unorthodox to the Western Literary Canon in a way that is not suffocating. She's amazing at teaching as well, honestly a true academic. Her feedback is comprehensive as fuck, yet she's the chillest person ever. I've had the weirdest but also the most entertaining conversations with her. I've legit ranted to her about every single thing ever - including shady English teachers that have wronged me. My Legal teacher is also amazing, people legit think that me and best friend are her "fanclub" HAHAHAH. She's super good at listening to my rants about stress and all that - somehow she just knows the perfect thing to say! I've gotten a million pics with her as well, so definitely won't forget her.

Aside from teachers, there are classes that are just iconic for memes and gossip. No work.

I actually look forward to school believe it or not, I'm almost jealous of the younger years because they have so much more time in it. I literally just want to meet up with my teachers to get coffee after I graduate and talk hahaha

Wow this was long

[MAGGOT]

I'm still currently in school but I feel like when I finish school I will miss the structured schedule and my teachers, hopefully I shall keep in touch with them after hearing their past students stories  . Sorry I gotta follow the bandwagon miss the teachers too. After everyone I know leaves the school, who knows I might subscribe to the online newsletters and see what's going on in my school. Who ranked up and become a senior position? Who's unfortunately leaving? ooo That's the new principal? Gotta follow the new goss

[dashnog]

I'm only emotionally attached to the school myself in terms of nostalgia for last year and the amount of mental torment I suffer through trying to excel in each and every single one of my classes.