11 Oct 2015

You did it! The first day of exams is over!

You might’ve come out thinking “nice, totally smashed it!” or you might’ve come out thinking “shit.” Either way, while it’s only one or two down so far, the good news is you’re well on your way to being all done forever.

And do you know what? If you’re not feeling confident about your performance today, don’t worry. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again (but this time we’ve got NSW Premier Mike Baird to back us up): your life isn’t defined by your exams, unless you let it be.

Mike took to Facebook last night to reassure the nervous kids across not just NSW, but the country, and remind them to keep things in perspective. He mentioned how he had been a talker at school and totally distracted, and that his exam results weren’t that great–and look at him now! Premier of NSW.

He also noted that there are things way more important than school: family, for one (he met his wife soon after finishing school and it was all history). Despite the post’s plentiful ellipses, he offers some pretty solid–okay, really solid–advice.

It’s always important to give everything you do your very best shot, but make sure you keep some perspective. When you walk out of that final exam, you’ve got the world at your feet.

Life isn’t defined by your exams. It begins after they are finished.

He finished with a simple “good luck guys,” and it’s this that we wish onto you as well. Do the best you can, be the best you can and you’ll do fine, great even (and if you don’t, no worries–there are always so many options available to you). Keep up the momentum going from this first day and it’ll all be over in no time.

HSC exams begin tomorrow. Back when I was in school, a typical report card said something like “Mike talks too much in…

Posted by Mike Baird on Saturday, 10 October 2015