Finished Year 12 and Feeling Lost? Here’s What to Do Now.
There’s still a while until ATARs come out and UAC sends out offers, so what should you do in the meantime? It’s very common for Year 12 graduates to be feeling lost at this time of year, so we’ve got some suggestions to keep you occupied.
1. Rest
You’ve just been through an incredibly difficult experience. It’s easy to be uncharitable to ourselves since almost every adult has endured the struggles of finishing high school, but we shouldn’t let that undermine our compassion for ourselves. If you feel like lying in bed for a week, do it. Your mind and body need rest.
2. Exercise
It’s common to neglect our physical health a bit during times of high stress like the HSC. While we would hope that you still found some time to move your body, it’s never too late to start. Ease into some physical activity and find something that brings you joy. Try a dance class, kicking a ball with your mates, scenic walks, YouTube workouts or yoga routines.
3. Friends
It’s extremely easy to lose track of friends from school once you’re no longer seeing them every day. You should make an effort to meet up with each of your friends at least once by the end of the year so that you demonstrate to them that you value their friendship beyond the context of school. Suggest meeting up for bubble tea, a beach day, games or even just a phone call.
4. Hobbies
You probably still have a bit of free time, and now your job is to figure out what you enjoy. Most people need at least one creative outlet in their lives, whether that’s something traditionally arty, or something more design oriented. Now is a great time to test out some hobbies. Try everything from following a crochet tutorial to creating an automated farm in Minecraft. Write a short story - at last, without the constraints of assessment - or try a DIY project or thrift flip.
Without the structure of school you have the freedom, and responsibility, to decide how to spend your time. Be kind to yourself, invest in yourself, and use this opportunity to learn more about what makes you feel good.