Opinion Articles

SOUL MATTERS: You mean, that's it, go home, don't study
By Callum Close

As an eighteen year old post-HSC student, it’s hard to grasp fully the realisation of all that has passed, in what seems like the blink of an eye. What began way back in January 1997 has come to a rather abrupt halt in November 2009. For many, it seems as though the weight has been lifted and the real adventure is yet to come. For others (myself included) the end of the HSC has left a void inside which no amount of meaningless activity seems to be able to fill.

As my friends start to drift towards their own goals and dreams in life, I have finally begun to realise how much time I spent with them in the classroom and in the school grounds. This may seem like a cliché, but at this point in my life, some of the most amazing moments I have experienced involved my friends and the tight-knit community of my school. The completion of my schooling and the Higher School Certificate is a rite of passage into the much wider community. Reaching this milestone reminds us that we are able to pull through despite adversity and hold fast through trying times.

Year 12 is full of milestones. For many of you, completing the HSC was the next step in your journey after you turned eighteen. I was blinded by delusions of grandeur at coming of age. I was expecting an epiphany of sorts; I would know what I would do with the rest of my life, I would choose my degree, I would start my real life. I was a little disappointed however, when I awoke to find it was just another day, except this time, I was officially an adult and responsible for everything I did.

After my final exam, I spent the remainder of the day clearing my room of the many text books I had accumulated during the study period. It seems that finalising the HSC allows a student to straddle the cusp of childhood and adulthood. The adult in me felt the need to go out for a few celebratory drinks with other friends who had also finished, whilst the child within (which eventually won over) knew that it was time to catch up on sleep and start to wind down and enjoy the freedom I had gained.

There’s an odd feeling now when I awake – usually in the morning. I no longer have the need to study, but I still feel the urge to do so. The psychological pressures of the HSC stretched further than the stressful periods around exams and assessments. It’s a strange notion now to wake up and still have the ability to fall asleep again without the subconscious worry of wasting time, and although I may never read crime fiction again (thanks to the Extension One English course), I am certainly enjoying reading, writing and ‘bludging’ - just because I can!

Callum Close has just graduated from St Paul’s High School Booragul. This article is submitted by the Churches Media Association www.cmahunter.com.au.

*This article was published in The Herald, 16th November 2009