To Every Student and Parent in Year 12

Read This Today

I hope this message reaches you as the supportive hand, warm hug, or calm presence you might need right now as a parent or student in Year 12.

Although I’m currently a parent of primary-aged children and haven’t experienced this year from that side of the table, I have lived it many times before. As a student some twenty years ago (no need to dwell on the exact number, thanks), and as a teacher who has sat beside hundreds of students over my 18-year career.

I’m not here to tell you exactly how this year will unfold for you because, of course, we are all navigating our own unique circumstances. No one year looks the same.

However, some patterns recur, and I’d like to share two key ways you can feel a little more prepared together.

(And, critically, realise you’re not alone in all that entails Year 12).

Riding the Wave of Assessments

In my experience, assessments arrive in waves. No matter how many times teachers and faculty heads are asked to schedule dates so everything doesn’t land at once, I have never taught a year where students didn’t end up with several assessments occurring within the same fortnight (or week at its worst).

My advice is simple: when the quieter weeks hit, and you feel like you can breathe, don’t treat this as time off. Treat them as preparation time.

What assessments are coming up? How can you break your available time into smaller blocks to do the foundational work that will set you up when the wave begins to rise because it will.

Having too much to do without the resources to tackle it all can feel overwhelming. Time is one of the biggest resources you have, so learn to use it well.

One of the key ways preparation can occur is through practice exams or tasks. They not only help us see strengths and gaps, but also become familiar with the wording, layout and structure.

For the parents reading this who lived through the COVID lockdowns (I promise I won’t dwell on this—I know the anxiety might already be creeping in), do you remember when we all decided we wanted—no, needed—to make sourdough bread?

Throughout those long days, we realised you can’t make sourdough without a starter. You have to create it, nurture it, and give it time before you can bake the bread itself.

That sourdough starter is like the foundation of Year 12. Students, you must build consistent habits early. Lay the groundwork so that when the tough weeks hit (think: five assessments and a portfolio deadline all happening at once), you already have the systems in place to support you.

Intentional Support

Imagine you’re on a hike across rugged terrain. You’ve packed the right snacks, you’re wearing good walking shoes that won’t give you blisters, and your drink bottle is full.

You’re prepared.

But while you’re admiring the view, you trip and fall.

Not just a small stumble where you graze your knee—because you packed a first aid kit for that. Instead, you fall into a deep hole you cannot climb out of.

You’re at the bottom, alone, and nothing in your pack can help you escape. All you can do is call out and hope that someone walking the same path hears you and can help you out.

At some point during the Year 12 journey, many students feel like they’re in that hole.

Perhaps you’re a parent watching your child lose motivation, and no matter what you say, they can’t seem to pull themselves out of the slump. Or maybe you’re a student receiving disappointing marks one after another and beginning to wonder if there’s any point in continuing to try.

These moments happen—often around Term 3. (I promise I have an article coming out later that is a deeper, and supportive, dive into that).

Without a support network around you, it can feel like you are forever stuck in that deep, dark hole.

My advice: start the year by intentionally building a network of people you can lean on. The kind of people who can handle your honesty, support you during the lows, and help carry some of the weight when things feel overwhelming.

How they show up and support may look slightly different, which is okay. The important part is that they do help, provide support, and are available when it’s needed.

As a high school teacher, I’m very aware that parents are not always part of the support network young people choose. This is normal. As much as we might wish we were the first choice, sometimes how we show support is to remove our ego, listen - really listen, not solve - and let them know we’re supporting our child’s decisions.

If it isn’t going to be a parent, students need to find strong support outside the home. A teacher you connect with is a great place to start. It could also be a friend who finished Year 12 recently, a manager from a part-time job, a sports coach, or a school counsellor. Support can come from many places.

The goal isn’t simply for these people to pull you out once you’re already in the hole—although they absolutely can.

Ideally, they’re the people who say, “Hey, there’s a big hole coming up. Let’s slow down and walk around it.”

Or, when we are deep in it, there may be someone who can climb in alongside us, be there and then help us see possibilities for how we can climb back out.

Support networks help us recognise warning signs early. They notice when something isn’t quite right and help us adjust before the situation becomes overwhelming.

So if you’re beginning this year feeling alone or stressed—whether as a parent or a student—start building your support network now. Choose to act and reach out to those trusted people. This journey is much easier when you have others alongside you, not on your own.

There will likely be bumps, disappointments, moments that feel like failures, and times when everything is due at once. But with the right habits, people and perspectives, this year can

also be one of learning, growth, and success - in all its various forms.

Laura Pitt

Former High School Teacher & Co-Host of More Than a Score