CAPTAIN'S CORNER

SENIOR CAPTAIN

As the year nears completion, exams are in full swing, and students have been busy across all year levels. 

For us Year 12s, the past few weeks have been nothing short of a hectic period full of exams and countless hours of study. We completed our marathon 3-hour English and EAL exams on Tuesday 29 October, and since then, the grind has been nonstop. Despite this, the overall vibe among the year level has been really positive throughout this time, with study groups forming at school, local libraries, and a general supportive feeling present between students and teachers.

Personally, I am writing this only a couple hours after completing my final exam, and I’m reflecting on just how lucky I have been to come to such an amazing school. There has been an abundance of opportunities and support throughout my life at McKinnon, and for that I am extremely grateful to all the staff, students and wider community throughout my time here. 

The memories from my journey here will be far beyond whatever the score may be, rather the countless camps, activities and fun in class with my mates and teachers. I will miss coming to school every day at McKinnon, but to all students not in Year 12, enjoy each day as it all truly goes by in the blink of an eye. 

Best of luck to everyone as the year nears the end, thank you for everything! 

James Kay, Year 12

JUNIOR CAPTAIN

Currently, for Year 9 students, the concept of senior school exams is becoming increasingly relevant. With the school year drawing to a close, Science, Maths and English exams for Year 9 students are nearing. As the cohort prepares or at least considers these exams, each student's mindset is widely varied. 

For the majority, exams bring on a bout of fear and creep up on students amongst a plethora of learning tasks and out of school commitments. Some students have barely considered exams and push thoughts of preparation to the back of their minds. Yet others feel confident in their ability to make meaningful progressions in their studies. To negate pessimistic thought patterns and habits before exams, we must consider exactly how the exam affects us. 

These exams don’t reflect senior school or the pressure that comes with VCE but instead are merely the first step in ensuring a smooth transition into Year 10 subjects and the workload associated. Whilst it is natural, feeling intimidated by exams is oftentimes unhelpful and leads to habitual malpractices such as procrastination. Lastly, confidence can lead to academic prosperity, but revising is crucial as exams push students to develop study skills now, to be used in later years.

When considering how to approach large workloads, it is important to foster a sense of motivation. Motivation plays a valuable role when counteracting procrastination and revising the curriculum studied. Instead of quelling the anxious feelings that may arise and ignoring areas of doubt, we can harness these emotions and focus on the areas that bring discomfort to feel relief. Students who articulate their weaker areas and practise these skills will feel the most confident and comfortable on the day of the exam.

Remember, the quality of studying occurring in the lead up to exams is more beneficial than final marks. Students who feel a strong desire to do well in the face of impending assessments are the students who hold the most control over their academic performance. With the exams steadily approaching, I wish everyone the best in achieving their goals.

Eden Sullivan, Year 9