Academic Counsellor News

Sometimes the pressures of high school can become very overwhelming. Multiple teachers and multiple assessment tasks and work requirements. Of course, the ideal situation is to have completed work, as asked, and to have kept and a used a diary to do extra work at home. Planning and organisation are great tools for avoiding the stress of a deadline, but the truth is that sometimes we all leave things to the last minute.

The first thing you can do when you realise that you are behind in assessments, or about to be behind, is to talk with your teacher. Acknowledging that you are struggling with a timeline is a way to begin to take charge of your responsibilities. When you talk with your teacher, be honest; admit if you have not been as productive as you could and then talk to them about what you can now achieve and then stick to it.

Ask for help from others. This doesn’t always work if you ask at 11pm the night before something is due, but you can ask family at home, friends in class and teachers at school, including Academic Support and Wellbeing and Education Support Staff.

Use your own initiative to make the best use of study days, weekends and after school support classes. Check SEQTA to make sure you understand and have the resources to complete tasks. Create a ‘to do’ list and work your way through the tasks, prioritising the most urgent.