How To Give Your Grades A Makeover Next Year

I’ve had enough of being looked down on. I’ve had enough of feeling like I’ve fallen behind. Why am I like this? Why aren’t my marks as good anymore? I used to be so motivated. 

Do not let me catch you thinking like this. It’s statistically true that 70% of people reading this article right now are still considered the standard. (Don’t question the stats please, and don’t look at the release date of this lol) Genuinely, I felt like my marks were on a downward trend just before the HSC, but still had everyone comparing their marks to mine. Even the students who are currently in 1st place. All that hard work and helping everyone in junior years made up for it. If you’re in the new year 12 cohort now, I want you to know that there is no more foundation work you can do. So just do your best to solidify your learning now.

Now, this one is not for the boys with the boomin’ system, unfortunately. It’s for everyone who has ever felt like a letdown and is sick of everyone saying they will never make it. “I’d like to see you try”? Okay, sit back and watch me.

Weaponise your anger

No, I’m not talking about being fuelled with hatred and becoming a menace to society. I’m talking about directing that energy where it needs to go. We are NOT going to lay in bed at 2AM wondering why our life is so crappy and everyone else seems happier without any effort. Because we know we are gonna make it. Everyone’s time will come one day, and it does not matter who is reading this right now. I know how hard you’ve worked, even if you perceive it to be very little. I’m proud of you. Now sit down, and get things started.

If you’re like me, you only want someone to be proud of you. But sometimes, it takes some thinking to realise that someone should be you. Nobody knows your heart, struggles, intentions, and achievements (big and small) like you do. There is never going to be a day when someone actually wears your shoes. (Unless they’re a sibling with the same size as you or something, I’m not being literal rn.)

I remember my maths teacher, who made me literally want to rip my hair out of my head whenever I looked at anything calculus-related, taunting us the whole time. She would always remind us – even if our class had the highest average mark – that we would always be “second-top class”. It sucked. It sucked even more when the last mark I saw at the teacher’s desk had me walking back to my table wondering if it was a 19/40 or a 9/40. It was a 9. I laugh about it now because that was 2020, I was going through it, my “friends” crawled out of the depths of Hell, and I was slowly falling down the rabbit hole of self-doubt. 

But now, I’m taking an online calculus course before going into computer science in uni next year so… I’m getting somewhere. I’m healing. 😌❤️‍🩹

You just have to be proactive about your progress and improvements. If you don’t try your best, you’re never going to fail. Ever. That’s not what we want. We need to be getting up off the ground whenever we fall. You’re not the burnt-out gifted kid for nothing. One more bandaid is not gonna hurt. Just like the city skyline view, first-class seats, and affordable off-days, having everything your inner child has ever desired won’t hurt. It is worth it (Part 1: the toxic mindset), but take care of yourself along the way obvi (Part 2: redemption of the toxic mindset).

We’ve all seen TikToks about heartbroken dudes getting on their grind and living 25/8 in the gym. We’re gonna be those dudes; academically ofc. Study when you can, and rest when you need to.

Be true to yourself about what you want

Know your goals, so that you may find your trajectory. In other words, with no Final Destination™️ (uh oh 👀) there is no path to follow. I’m kicking you out of the clubhouse if you hoard pretty stationery and don’t use it (saying this as someone who just finished my HSC and used all of it by the end 😏). It depends on what you’re getting into, and I suggest asking around or researching the best study methods for the field of study you’re in. Remember: if someone recommends something and it doesn’t work for you, your life is not over. Stop thinking it is. I’m serious. Stop it. (Part 3: bye bye toxic mindset).

There are so many study and note-taking methods, and not all conform to the field of study you want to be in, and not all will work with your mindset, retention (remembering and understanding material), or the time you can spend in a week during deep-focus studying. I had friends who did HSC Business Studies and the only thing that helped them was reading everything they were given and rewriting it all from memory, so basically a revised version of the Cornell Notes system. I’m telling you this as proof that you can mould an existing method to suit you, by taking aspects that are useful and implementing them into your study sesh.

Motivate yourself with a mood board about the life you want, things you like, and whatever it is that motivates you to pursue those things. Make a little wishlist or plan a trip you want to take years from now for when you feel like you’ve made it and deserve to celebrate yourself. Yes, this is your green light to make an itinerary at the aforementioned 2AM. Also, if you’re always up at 2AM, please stop drinking caffeine in order to be an academic weapon. Hot people go to sleep early. So, to make that stat true, I need you to be sleeping early.

Seriously, do your bloody research, mate

It’s no longer a silly goofy time. We are setting our minds to this. Your goal differs from mine, and everyone else’s. You need to figure out how exactly to achieve it. 

For example, you’re trying to break through in a specific industry. Figuring out how to get there could mean: getting certified (a degree, an internship. Etc.) → making use of opportunities (events, internships, boot camps and other courses or challenges, and more) → creating a folio or list of your experience, passions, etc. (on a networking forum or in a resume template) → networking (in person and online) → getting a starter/junior position → then eventually, moving up the ladder by using experience and career development. 

Simple as that. If that’s generally your goal, then I did the work for you. You’re welcome. I probably would have never written that out if it weren’t for you. Consider yourself ✨special✨.

I mentioned earlier some things to research in terms of studying, but you should also get into the nitty-gritty. Don’t add this to your list of other random things to stress about. You can literally research this in your final year of a degree when you still feel like you don’t know WTH to do with yourself. It’s okay to take a gap year.

It’s okay to delve into something you actually do love for as long as you want to. Your life is your own, nobody else is living it. Not your friends, or parents, or randoms from school that you feel like you have to impress because they’re so judgy (like seriously dude get a life and stop bringing that negative energy around here 😤).

Your life is your own, and you have to live it.

Until we meet again 

I hope this little frustration-fuelled ramble helped motivate you to be proactive about getting to your goal. It’s never too late to get your crap together, I promise you. We’re gonna be academic weapons. No more manifesting (only), we are going to do something, no matter how little. Watch vlogs about people in your field of study, for me that looks like seeing people code and what the catastrophe process of nothing making sense looks like. It helps you visualise the who, what, when, where, why and hows of studying, and also what life afterwards when entering the industry looks like.

Twinkle twinkle, the little star you are. You’re gonna go far, kid. And I cannot wait to watch.