General News
1 November, 2024
End of chapter bittersweet for Year 12s
The bell has finally rung on 13 years of countless lessons and memories for local year 12 students, with only a few exams remaining before assignments, recesses and excursions are a thing of the past.
Thursday, October 24 was the culmination of the rollercoaster known as school at Maryborough Education Centre (MEC) and Highview College, with assemblies, muck-up days and even slip-and-slides marking the celebrations.
For MEC year 12 students Charlotte Fithall, Evan Horner and Joshua Fischer, the festivities brought mixed emotions.
“There were a lot of tears, happy and sad — it was really strange sitting in our final assembly and looking down the line of year 12s and thinking ‘I’m probably never going to see lots of these people again’,” Evan said.
“It’s very scary and daunting because 13 years of the same thing pretty much year in and year out and then all of a sudden you are expected to go into society.”
His sentiments were echoed by Joshua, who said it took some time before emotions started to kick in.
“I’m excited to get it over and done with, I’ve had enough of the classes and the same stuff every day but at the same time it’s also scary,” he said.
“It goes quick — they always talk about it but as soon as term four started it felt like I fell asleep one day, woke up and graduated.
“I opened my wardrobe [on Thursday] and looked at all the school uniforms and I was like ‘I’m never wearing that again’, that was really the wake-up call.”
While lessons have officially finished, students have continued to hit the textbooks and highlight their notes as many students started their exams with a three-hour English exam on Tuesday.
“I was nervous coming up to the exam but once I was in there and started writing, it started to ease away and the writing sort of takes you,” Charlotte said.
“I’m still stressing a little bit but since I’ve got the first one [out of the way], I know what to expect and how to calm myself before the exam.”
Across town at Maryborough’s other secondary school, Highview College students like Bradley Neely, Dominique Roche and Tilly Davis were also thriving, surviving, or stressing about their English exam.
For Dominique, when she walked out of the exam hall, it was an overwhelming feeling of relief.
“I’m feeling relieved that one of them is over, I’m feeling a bit stressed that there are a few more still to do but it’s nice to have this one out of the way,” she said.
“I found the exam okay, I did plenty of study beforehand and I’m glad I did.
“Now that English is done it feels like a little dent has been made in the number of exams we have left.”
While reflecting on all the lifelong stories school has made, Bradley said while it’s a relief school is done and dusted, he will miss seeing his friends and peers.
“As cliche as it sounds, I’m really going to miss being with all these people and not being able to see them every day, it is a bit sad,” he said.
“You do get close to your peers and seeing friends each day is great, for that to basically just stop is pretty hard.”
Planning to study paramedicine at La Trobe University in Bendigo next year, Bradley’s advice to future students is to knuckle down during the final stages of secondary education.
“My advice to other students is definitely do the practice exams, I’m regretting not doing any myself,” he said.
“English was one of my least favourite subjects and I’m glad to have it done, but I should have done some practice exams.
“It can be hard and does take time, but I’d definitely recommend just doing them. You’ll thank yourself for it.”