From the Counselling Team
- Surviving Year 12: A Guide for Parents
- College Counselling Team
Surviving Year 12: A Guide for Parents
"One of the biggest misconceptions for students and also parents is that the HSC determines their career and what they can do in life. It's better to see that the HSC is only the beginning of the process of sorting out what you'd like to do after you leave school, not the end".
Any parent who has had a child go through Year 12 will tell you it’s a tough year. And in many cases parents experience similar levels of stress or anxiety. So, how can you help your child do their best, and get through the year? Here are our tips:
Stay involved
During the final HSC year, students need more support than ever. This can come in a variety of forms:
- showing a genuine interest in what they're doing
- letting them know you respect them and understand the challenges they face
- showing you care about their future and what kind of career they will have
- reassuring them you're there to support them if things don't go to plan with their marks or other aspects of life.
"Knowing someone cares and that all the effort they are putting into school is appreciated can make all the difference".
Support and encourage
Be supportive and encouraging. Highlight strengths and successes. Encourage your child not to dwell on failures, but to see them as 'mistakes', which can actually be something they can learn and benefit from.
Appreciate your child may be feeling very stressed, even if it's not obvious to you. Many Year 12 students are feeling overwhelmed about what lies ahead – leaving school, leaving lifelong friends, being out in the ‘real world’. Many kids fear they will let their family down so be mindful of setting unrealistic expectations.
Help them plan & minimise distractions
Students are busy during their HSC. They may need someone to remind them of their schedule for study and extra-curricular activities. This is particularly the case during exam time when it's helpful to have someone at home to keep an eye on the Year 12 calendar and remind them of important dates.
Suggest ways to minimise distractions. For example, can your child log out of social media platforms for a few weeks? Can your child ‘dock’ their phone in a designated space during study?
Dealing with setbacks and asking for help
As a parent or carer, you have a crucial supporting role when students are struggling with setbacks. Disappointments can sap the confidence of students throughout Year 12. This brings with it the risks of losing interest in school or studying and a lack of direction. Try to be sensitive to early warning signs at home.
- Sometimes students will suddenly stop communicating about what is happening in their school life.
- They may also react negatively or aggressively to questions or requests and become moody and argumentative.
- They can also become more distant, lethargic and detached from daily life.
Many young people feel uncomfortable about reaching out for help when they face problems. You don't always have the resources to fix things yourself, but you can reach out to your child’s Year Coordinator, or one of the School Counsellors who can support you.
Keep calm & encourage independence
As you would be aware, stressed students can be prone to angry outbursts. They may be highly sensitive, worried about their future and their abilities. Small things can set them off, so try not to overreact.
Encourage a healthy balance between work and leisure. Sometimes young people need a total break from everything for a weekend or so, to recharge their batteries.
Encourage and allow your child to be as independent as you can possibly stand. The more independent your child is in meeting the demands of Year 12, the better prepared they will be to succeed at a tertiary level or in the workforce.
Managing expectations
Focusing on achievable goals, both for HSC and life generally, will help your child relax and perform better. Students with sensible, achievable aims for the HSC are more likely to leave school feeling optimistic and confident about their future. Ultimately, that is more important than anything else.
Healthy body, healthy mind
Like a marathon, students should start preparing their bodies for the HSC early. Although many students understand the need for regular study, a lot don’t realise their physical and mental health are just as important. Good nutrition can improve endurance, alertness and concentration.
Some things you can do to help your son through the HSC include encouraging:
- a healthy diet – plenty of protein and complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables
- drinking lots of water
- cutting down on caffeine – if they must have caffeine, limit it to 1 and not after midday
- plenty of sleep – at least 8 to 10 hours is recommended
- thinking positively about how they will do in the exam
- exercise and time to switch off and relax each day.
Other pathways
Be realistic in your expectations as to where the HSC leads. Not all HSC students will go on to university – but they can still have a wealth of excellent and satisfying career options.
If they don't get the HSC marks they needed and still really want to go on to tertiary education later, there are many other pathways. Interestingly, the success rate of mature age students is much higher than for those who go straight from school.
Encourage them to seek help
Encourage your child to seek help from teachers, Year Coordinator or the school counsellor if they are having any difficulty with subjects, study organisation, stress or anxiety about examinations.
Reachout.com also have great tips on coping with exam stress. https://au.reachout.com/study-work-and-money/exam-stress
HSC Resources
https://au.reachout.com/articles/how-amy-found-her-own-way-through-the-year-12-exams
https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/hsc-student-guide
Mrs Joe McCarthy - College Counsellor
College Counselling Team
The College Counselling Team are available to provide confidential emotional and social support and guidance for your son and family. For reference our College Counselling Team contact details are shown below.
Mr Rick Russo
Counsellor (Full time Monday to Friday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4359
School Mobile (in case of emergency): 0418 438 325
Ms Joe McCarthy
Psychologist (2 days per week: Tuesday and Thursday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: jmccarthy@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4322
Mrs Judy Gill
Psychologist (2 days per week: Wednesday and Friday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: jgill@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4315
The Counselling Team, together with the Learning Support Team, look forward to providing CONFIDENTIAL support to assist your son to build his SELF CONFIDENCE / SELF ESTEEM AND RESILIENCE within a caring, supportive Catholic school community. Please do not hesitate to make contact with any of the above team should the need arise.
Mr Rick Russo - College Counsellor/Chaplaincy Services