24 May 2023 | 4 mins
Overview
  • Everything starts to feel so much more serious when you hit Year 11 and 12.
  • So you're probably starting to wonder whether you should be trying to enjoy these last two years as much as possible, or whether to roll up your sleeves and study your little heart out. 

Once you hit Year 11 and 12, things start to ramp up and it feels like you have to make a choice between getting decent grades, having a social life or looking after your mental health. So the question has probably crossed your mind: Should you focus on enjoying your last year of school, or is it best to really knuckle down and study hard this year?

Well, there’s no simple answer. But finding a balance between both is the best way to go about it. In an ideal world, you’ll spend enough time studying that you can reach your full potential, but take plenty of breaks to do things you enjoy so you don’t burn yourself out. 

There’s always a couple of people in each grade that distance themselves from everyone in Year 12 and go into all-out study mode. They stop sitting with their friends at lunch and recess and hit the library instead, squeezing every last morsel of information into their brain.

If you’re one of those people, all power to you. It takes incredible discipline to work that hard, so consistently for an entire year. But for most of us, that’s just going to lead to a severe case of burnout.

Realistically, giving yourself breaks in between classes and on the weekends is really healthy for your mind and your overall wellbeing. On top of that, this is the last year you get to see your school friends every day. So make the most of it and enjoy every recess and lunch with your mates. Sit around chatting about whatever it is you chat about and dip that Le Snak and give yourself a well deserved break from thinking about school work.

When it comes to afternoons and the weekend, getting a bit of study in is definitely ideal. But make sure it isn’t taking up all of your free time. It’s easy to assume that the more time you spend studying, the more you’ll learn. But it actually comes down to how effectively you use that time. Spending two solid hours doing practice exams, and memorising flashcards is so much more valuable than spending five hours reading textbooks. 

If you study efficiently, you’ll be able to spend more time doing the things you love – with a clean conscience. There’s nothing worse than going to a party and stressing the whole night because you have an exam on Monday you aren’t prepared for. 

Speaking of, part of being in Year 12 is the constant 18ths. So if you’re planning on drinking (if you’re 18 of course), make sure you know your limit and never go over it. You’ll save yourself a tonneeee of hangxiety and actually be able to enjoy the rest of your weekend if you keep things tame. Plus, having to finish an assignment while you’re hungover on a Sunday really isn’t it.

At the same time, parties are the perfect environment to get to know people in your grade at a deeper level. So every time you’re invited to one, it’s 100% worth going (as long as you feel up to it). At worst, you can always pull a sneaky phantom exit half an hour into the night. But at best, you might end up having a really nice chat with someone you haven’t had the chance to properly talk to at school. 

So the question remains, should you enjoy your last year of school, or knuckle down and study? I think the answer really depends on where you’re currently sitting on the scale. If you’re leaning more towards the party side of things right now, then finding some efficient ways to study is the best way to still enjoy your final year of school, while setting yourself up for some really good marks. 

On the flip side, if you’re spending all your time studying and can feel the burnout creeping up, giving yourself time to enjoy yourself is probably exactly what you need.