Tips for Surviving Year 12 from a Recent Graduate

Satria (he/him) graduated from secondary school in 2023. He is currently building The ALAN Project, a new startup company dedicated to helping people better understand inclusion.

In his spare time, Satria loves to travel and explore different places. He also enjoys reading, hiking and listening to music and podcasts. He has just finished a Certificate IV in Marketing and Communications at RMIT with the view to commence an associate degree in arts at Deakin University in July 2025.

How did you manage to keep up with Year 12, especially when it got to having a lot of SACs at once, with your outside extracurriculars?

I didn't do this super well in Year 12, but over the years, I have gotten better with time management and ensuring everything gets done.

Satria (he/him)

I have since learned to prioritise what matters to me.

For me, I like to think of my health as a top priority of mine because everything I want to do is reliant on this. That is why I exercise often, eat relatively healthily, and focus on getting enough sleep. I believe that maintaining my health will be the most effective way to achieve my short-term and long-term goals.

Another top priority is maintaining meaningful relationships with my family and friends. I know that in my personal life, social connection is what fulfils me the most - whether it is spending quality time with family and friends, attending social events, or constantly trying to maintain healthy and meaningful relationships with those who matter the most to me.

I realise that VCE can demand a lot of your time. For many people, passing VCE or getting a certain ATAR can be crucial in shaping their trajectory for the next few years thus it may be your top priority for the year, and that is okay. However, I think it is also important not to neglect the other things that matter to you.

I would also recommend planning how you are going to spend your free time when you are not studying.

As hard as it is, you might want to reflect on the things you would be comfortable sacrificing when things get busy, as well as the things that bring you joy and fulfilment and the things that will pay off in the long run.

Over the years, I have learned that time is incredibly precious, and how we use each hour of our day can dictate the influence of our short-term and long-term future.

Steven Bartlett, Author of The Diary of The CEO, likens how we spend our time to spinning a roulette table.

"I think of my time as 24 chips, and by the time I've slept, 8 of them have gone. You're standing over this roulette table, and how you place these 16 chips determines your health outcomes, your relationship outcomes, your professional outcomes, or at least your ability to influence them."

Whilst we all have things going on outside of our own control, a lot of the time, we can use what is available to us to take actions, no matter how small, that will lead us one step further in the direction we want to head.

Whenever I'm stuck on how to use my time, I think about what I can do now that will pay off in both the short term and the long term future.

What is your most secret, top-notch study hack that helped you in Year 12?

For me, it was focusing on the Key Knowledge and Key Skills Dot Points in the VCAA study design, as I was told very early on in VCE that they shaped what would be on the SACs and Learning Outcomes.

I would also ask the teacher how to approach studying their subject most effectively. They would likely have taught the subject before and have insights into the common mistakes students make and the study techniques that work well in their subject.

It is worth noting that most teachers want to see their students succeed, so they are generally happy to help in any way they can.

I keep falling behind in my subjects, but I don't have any motivation to do any work. Pls help!

If a friend said this to me, I would ask them about what might be leading them to feel this way.

Motivation can fluctuate, and because VCE students are asked to study for long periods, you will almost inevitably have good days and bad days - so know that it is normal to experience a lack of motivation at times.

As someone who is trying to balance running a business and studying, I strive to connect with my purpose, what I want to achieve in my life and how my actions in the present moment can shape that.

So, my question to you would be: how will passing VCE or getting your desired ATAR contribute to where you want to be in 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or more?

I have just completed a TAFE course, and I have asked myself similar questions to this to help me determine what I should do next.

The upshot of this was applying for an undergraduate course, making some travel plans for the end of the year and planning to do these things whilst consistently making time for my family and friends as well as looking after my physical and mental health 🙂

Your favourite study snack (that you can bring in libraries)?

I am obsessed with yogurt, but I'm not sure if you're allowed to bring this into the library. Otherwise, fruit can be a great option.

Is the transition from Year 12 to TAFE hard?

Yes, it was. What I found the most challenging was that TAFE has a very different marking system from VCE. All of my assignments were competency-based, meaning that to pass, you needed to achieve 100%, and anything less would require you to resit the assignment.

The course itself was quite challenging, but from an accessibility perspective, it was easier for me than VCE because there were no tests or exams that required strict assessment conditions.

Because of my cerebral palsy, I found SACs and exams hard because of their timed conditions, even though I would spend a ton of hours studying for them.

I genuinely hate school. What should I do?

School is not everyone's favourite place. I personally loved school (even though I went through some tough times when I was at school).

Acknowledging that I don't know your individual circumstances and the reasons why you've felt that way, I unfortunately can't provide a response specific to your situation.

I would strongly recommend telling someone you trust (e.g., a family member, a friend, a teacher, a coworker, or someone with whom you feel comfortable being honest).

I am not a psychologist, but if a friend, family member, or acquaintance were to ask me this, I would ask them if they were comfortable explaining what had led them to feel that way.

I would also ask them what they want to get out of school and why it is important to them that they finish school.

Finally, I would ask them what would happen if they were not to complete school. Would they feel satisfied that they no longer have to worry about school? Or would they feel limited by the fact that they did not pass Year 12?

These are some of the things I would consider when evaluating my options.

As someone who decided not to complete year 12, I can see that there were definitely pros and cons of this decision, and in hindsight, I can see how it has benefited me as well as how it has, at times, made it difficult to pursue further studies.

By and large, I would suggest reflecting on where you want to be in a few years and whether or not pushing through your hatred of school will help you get there and is worth feeling the way you do now.

I also find that finding some joy in every day, no matter how big or small, can help me when I am struggling; it might not help alleviate the way you're feeling, but it can offer some brief respite from thinking about what you're going through.

Final words

Regardless of what you get out of this time in your life - I truly hope everything works out for you and that you get to pursue your goals, ambitions and dreams!

These answers are based on my personal experiences and opinions and are not professional advice. If you are struggling, here are some services you might want to engage with:

Lifeline provides 24-hour crisis counselling, support groups and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or chat online.

Suicide Call Back Service provides 24/7 support if you or someone you know is feeling suicidal. Call 1300 659 467.

Beyond Blue aims to increase awareness of depression and anxiety and reduce stigma. If you or a loved one need help, you can call 1300 22 4636, 24 hours/7 days a week or chat online.

MindSpot is a free telephone and online service for people with anxiety, stress, low mood or depression. It provides online assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression. MindSpot is not an emergency or instant response service. Call 1800 61 44 34.

Medicare Mental Health gives advice and will connect you to local mental health services. Call 1800 595 212.

MensLine Australia is a professional telephone and online counselling service offering support to Australian men. Call 1300 78 99 78, 24 hours/7 or chat online.

If you're feeling lonely:

FriendLine supports anyone who's feeling lonely, needs to reconnect or just wants a chat. You can call them 7 days a week on 1800 424 287, or chat online with one of their trained volunteers. All conversations with FriendLine are anonymous.

There are also helplines available for people with different backgrounds or needs.

For young people who need mental health support, and their parents or carers:

Kids Helpline is Australia's only free 24/7 confidential and private counselling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 – 25. Call 1800 55 1800.

Headspace provides free online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12 – 25 and their families and friends. Call 1800 650 890, or chat online.

For people with complex mental health issues:

SANE Australia provides support to anyone in Australia affected by complex mental health issues, as well as their friends, family members and health professionals. Call 1800 187 263 or chat online.

Blue Knot Foundation Helpline is the National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma. It provides support, education and resources for the families and communities of adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse. Call 1300 657 380.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people:

13YARN provides 24/7 free and confidential crisis support. Call 13 92 76.

Thirrili provides support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the aftermath of suicide or other fatal critical incidents. Call 1800 805 801, 24 hours/7 days a week.

For LGBTIQ+ people:

QLife provides nationwide telephone and web-based services for peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Call 1800 184 527.