Hi There!I am starting this blog off extremely selfishly!
I felt that it would be rewarding to reflect on the last 6 months which for everyone my age, in their senior year that is, is guaranteed to understand is exactly 50% cursed and 50% blessed.
I for one, am actually SO surprised that I've kept it together this much... although each day that creeps closer to trial exams and the HSC (high school certificate) terrifies me more and more.
I must say, that the amount I've learnt, not just academically in the last half-year has been more than I could have imagined... and maybe more than my brain could handle
I have somehow... and I can't tell you exactly how, become expert at tackling exam stress. I went from being that person who is shaking as they walk into the exam room, to the person who looks at people like that and shakes their head saying 'what an idiot... they're just freaking themselves out'.
I claim it was a mixture of regular meditation, heightened confidence, in myself and my ability AND finally getting rid of those friends who bring me down.. especially in those kind of stressful situations. My advice is to younger student who get exam jitters is give it time! It all becomes less scary the more you do it!
I terms of the way that you study, having a blanket statement exam guide doesn't always work, especially when you're preparing for ONE final exam. Legal studies for example has 4 topics. For some of them all you need to do is write an essay in the HSC, so in this case, you should learn the content but focus on prepping different exam questions instead of making endless flashcards for the topic... this is SMART not HARD.
I don't know about you but by stopping doing what I love doing the most, that is reading, writing, watching HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER! makes me want to work LESS! By separating yourself from your downtime, your interests, you are losing sight of who you really are. You are NOT a study robot. By allowing myself time to do what I love most every now and then, I am able to remember my goals and ambitions. By keeping yourself alive, both literally and mentally, you are actually enhancing your learning even though you might not be studying at that exact moment...
I am lucky, very lucky to have best friends who are the BEST friends. They support me, help me when I feel like sh*t and give me confidence everyday. For you that might be a parent, cousin, friend, pet etc. In times of adversity and stress everyone is prone to flip out a little bit especially when you're frustrated and sometimes we take it out on those we KNOW are not going to really get mad... trust me, even I do this. Remember that those few people who love you and care for you are only trying to do just that. Listen to them, take their wisdom and love and punch a pillow instead. You need your rocks!
Year 12 is a year of much stress, many tears and restless night. It is also a year of parties, 18th birthdays, reunited friends and new ones. This is your last year as a kid and first as an adult, you have the best of both worlds. Your English essay can wait until Sunday if your friend is having a party on Saturday. Fun times are the times you will remember. Work around them, don't sacrifice them. Go and be yourself and have fun with your friends (and always be safe)
Finally, I've never been one for the cringe positivism crap I read on Pinterest... until I started ACTUALLY reading it. By talking to yourself with positive and affirmative thoughts, you are being motivated from inside out and literally forcing yourself to be happy from inside out. I made little visualisation boards for my room and wallpapers for my phone and laptop. I find that if you are surrounded by enough positivity and motivation, it genuinely seeps into your life
In summary:
- Exam jitters... they do more evil than good!
- Study smart, not hard... sound cliche but its the truth!
- Time away from the books is just as important as time in front of the books
- Your best friends are your BEST assets
- Work around the fun and get as much of it as you can
- Surround yourself with positivity
In short, they are the main aspects of change that have allowed me to 'survive' the last 6 months. By no means have I been jolly and skippy ever moment of every day. I've had some hard days and I've bunt out many many times, I've had some incredible days. But you know what? I've done pretty damn well if you ask me.
Remember... think colossally and let your brain wonder among the stars
All the love x
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