Senior Years Survival Guide

We know that the words “Years 11 and 12” can send a shiver down your spine when they are muttered. But that shouldn’t be the case. We understand that the thought of those senior years can be intimidating, but we also know that it can be one of the most rewarding years of your schooling life. Nailing those study sessions, making new friends while complaining about assignments, and inspiring younger students are some of the reasons that make these years so worthwhile.So, if you’d like to discover the secret to having an amazing time whilst acing your senior work, then please read on.

Study Tips

Keep in mind that you don’t need to have perfect grades, and not doing well on one test or assignment is not the end of the world!

When you’re at school, your main job is to study. But that’s not always easy for everyone. Everyone has different study methods that work the best for them, but if you’re still a bit unsure on what your study groove is, give these a try:

Doing subject preparation early Sometimes doing a little bit each day is so much better than digging your way through chunks of course content on the weekend. Setting aside an hour each day to be up to date with your maths notes, or reading a paragraph ahead in your chemistry textbook will make the final exam prep so much easier.
Hanging out with a study buddy after school Fun fact: you don’t have to study alone if you don’t want to! Finding a study buddy is an incredible way of making study fun. Set timed study sessions for 45 minutes and then give yourself a 10 minute break of just chatting with your friends – it’s far more efficient than studying for hours upon hours with nothing going in (make sure you adjust the times for what works best for you). If you guys study the same subject, then testing and marking each other’s work is also a great way to practise being under pressure.
Teaching others Teaching others is an efficient way to find out the things you know versus the things you need to work on. Being able to successfully explain a physics concept to your friend or your dog unlocks the cogs in your brain and forces you understand the material yourself. If your friend/dog is busy, then pretend that you’re in a classroom teaching to a bunch of students. This idea may seem quite odd at first but it works extremely well. It can even help with predicting some of the exam problems if you pretend that your imaginary students are asking questions, just like in a real classroom.

These are just some of the study tips that we came up with but there are plenty more – discover what study routine and space works for you. Do you study better at the library or in your bedroom? Are you sharpest at night, or in the early hours of the day?

Extra-curricular Activities

When you’re trying to remember the photosynthesis equation, the thought of joining a club or doing activities outside of school may just sound like a waste of time. However, getting involved with any extra-curriculars will give you a great head start in life after high school. Not only will they hone the skills of your interest, they will also help develop your team building, time management, leadership and confidence skills in a safe and carefully guided way. But in saying that, it all depends on you. If you get to Year 11/12 thinking that it is ABSOLUTELY impossible to handle all these extra-curricular activities on top of your school work, then talking to a parent or a teacher about what you are going through is always a good idea. It is a matter of trialling what works best for you and finding the balance that makes you happy.

Study-Life Balance

Try hard in school and listen to each lesson. You never know when something will spark your soul!

Speaking of balance, it is important that you find some time to relax in your busy schedule. It can be hard to find a healthy balance between life and study, so setting goals is a great method to motivate yourself for what lies ahead. Writing down three study goals each day is an awesome way of staying on track with your studies. Once you’ve completed your goals, then use the rest of the day to relax, make plans with friends, and look after yourself. Make sure to get plenty of sleep each night, and find time to exercise throughout the week – it’s perfect for rejuvenating yourself.

Inspiring Younger Students

Believe it or not, once you hit the senior years, you are exactly that! A senior! A leader of the school community. It might feel a bit daunting, but it definitely gives you the chance to hold your head high and show how far you’ve come – and what you can achieve. Younger students will be looking up to you as role models, so take the opportunity to inspire them. Whether that means taking a little extra time to connect with the younger kids in your sports team, or mentoring a robotics team, you have the chance to make an impact. Show those kids who they can be when they reach the higher year levels!

Below are some of the things I wish I knew when I was in years 11 & 12, all in the own words of our volunteers:

You're awesome and it's going to be okay!
Just keep swimming!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It can be really difficult to admit you don’t understand something when everyone else seems to, but it’s very important to reach out and ask.
Always remember to be kind to yourself and speak to yourself the same way you would speak to a good friend.
Choose subjects that you enjoy, even if they are more difficult and you don't have friends in those classes. If there are teachers who inspire you, talk to them and see what you can learn because most of them would love the opportunity to help students to get into their field.

Know your limits, find your study groove, and look after yourself. But mostly importantly, enjoy the journey and work hard. We know it’s hard to find that balance, but we completely believe in you. Good luck!

Words by Trinity Liao
Images by Miriam Slattery