The HSC is an experience that demands time and energy from you both academically and emotionally. As such, it will test your limits, but also give you the chance to discover what you are truly capable of. When confronted with such challenges, we can choose to either embrace or retreat from them, with the latter of course requiring less effort; But to borrow the words of Theodore Roosevelt, nothing is worth doing unless it means effort, pain and difficulty.
During my HSC year, I set myself out on an unconventional path. I severed all ties to the science department and sought, instead, to devote myself to the arts and humanities; I chose textiles over maths, history over physics, and German over economics. My decisions were guided by passion, more than reason. The same could be said about my choice to spend three months of my year on exchange in Germany. Naturally, the list of reservations I had against taking the opportunity was long: fears of falling behind, missing out and wasting my time just to name a few.
When it comes to choosing and dropping your subjects, indecision is your greatest enemy. The constant musing of what could have been prevents you from taking any thoughtful, productive measures and will instead place further unnecessary stress on you. Ironically, the clarity we seek to aid us in decision making comes not from further thought, but from engagement. Let your instinct, passion and intuition guide us throughout the year. Year 12 can be a maze where you, the student, must learn to read the signs and follow your own voice. I am currently pursuing many of my high school electives at university through a combined degree of international studies and design in fashion and textiles, with no regrets.
Don’t be afraid to travel on the road less taken; it may be more challenging, but therein lies its value. At times it can be overwhelming, but remember the only thing that can stop you from succeeding is you. Embrace your failures as an opportunity to learn and more importantly, don’t be afraid to fail, and to fail fast.
