19 Dec 2019

Ah, the dreaded day: ATAR results day.

In terms of importance – for us Aussie kids, anyway - it’s right up there alongside a wedding day and the birth of a first child. Some people liken it to a marathon. 365(ish) days of endless classes, drafts, assignments, major works and exams – all amounting to this very day.

Now look, I know I’m lucky. I booked a holiday for the same day I got my ATAR. I know not many people can do this, but if you can then I urge you to DO IT!

The day I got that dreaded email to log in, I was on my way to Sydney Airport. I was venturing to the lovely U.S of A to fulfil my dream of witnessing Broadway in NYC. I opened my phone and logged into UAC. Ah, the joys of UAC.

I clicked “VIEW MY ATAR” and my heart sunk.

It was way below my expectation. For a long time, I was embarrassed by my ATAR. But trust me – when you finally take the steps to do what you’re truly meant to do beyond High School, it all melts away.

Your ATAR does not matter. It doesn’t help you make friends at uni, and it doesn’t stop you from getting into the career of your dreams.

I hate to be that guy, but when my friends currently in Year 12 worry about their ATAR – I can’t help but laugh. Not at them, or their worries. But I look back at all the countless nights of worrying and chucking my marks into an ATAR calculator (BTW don’t do it, they suck), and know now that I never needed to worry.

In Year 12, your life is Year 12.

You live and you breathe it.

Now, your results are important, and so is studying your hardest and submitting everything on time. But, let it be known that if things don’t pan out the way you expected, then it’s probably for the best.

I’m glad my ATAR sucked. It made me realise there is life out there. There is culture, and there are experiences waiting to be had.

So study smart… and LIVE kid. Push yourself in the classroom and push yourself in life. Go outside of your comfort zone, because when I look back, I see that none of it really mattered.

Make Year 12 memorable, beyond the mouse clicks and the pen marks.

Written by Travis Cross