10 Nov 2019

“So, how’s Year 12 goin?”

“Good thanks”

Wow. Another great conversation with a relative done and dusted. If only Year 12 was as easy as half-committedly small-talking your way through another tedious family barbecue.

Just for a moment though, imagine that you shocked your entire extended family and actually thought about your response to that stock-standard question. The question which you’ll inevitably be asked again, and again, and again over the next twelve months.

Imagine that ya told them exactly how it’s going.

That it’s only term 1 right now, so things aren’t too bad, but the assignments are piling up and you’re starting to stress out a bit. That you couldn’t decide between two subjects so, for now, you’re doing one more than you need to.

What if you told them that trying hard in physics seems pointless because you’ve got no clue what you want to do after school finishes. That you’re feeling lost and the only ones giving you any direction are your teachers and they’re telling you to study, study, study – so that’s what you do.

How would the fam react? It could go one of two ways:

You could get a reply in the form of a disinterested, somewhat stunned “A simple ‘good thanks’ would’ve sufficed”. I hate to break it to ya, but sometimes you’re not the only one who’s not interested in the small talk.

But maybe you’ll get something more than that. Maybe that third-uncle-twice-removed of yours has some great advice on how to manage your time and your assessments. Or possibly that elderly lady who you’re not sure if she’s a relative or just a friend of your Grandma will actually turn out to be a great sounding board for you to vent to when you’re stressed.

You could get all sorts of help you never expected.

Don’t just limit your openness and honesty to family dinners, though.

How about the next time a teacher asks how you’re traveling, you let him/her know what’s really going on. It might feel weird opening up to someone who has been stereotyped by pop culture as your arch-enemy, but a teacher is your best friend when it comes to getting through Year 12. They have all the knowledge, experience, and resources to get you out the other side.

Year 12 is tough and it’s a long, scary year ahead.

You’re going to be mentally tested harder than you probably ever have before.

It’s only term 1, and you’re probably still finding your feet, figuring out what’s what.

But whenever the work and the stress pile up, remember that you’re not the first person to go through Year 12, and you won’t be the last. Not only that, but there are countless people out there willing to lend you a helping hand where they can.

I know ‘good thanks’ has a nice ring to it, and if you’re gonna be asked the same question 100 times it kinda makes sense to have a nice, simple answer pre-prepared. But if you can communicate what you’re struggling with to someone, you’re opening the door to solving your problems just that little bit wider.