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Take it from me: your life isn't over if your HSC results are disappointing Take it from me: your life isn't over if your HSC results are disappointing
(35 minutes later)
The New South Wales HSC results are in. The world still turns. The class of 2013 is possibly breathing a sigh of relief – a shallow breath, because the tortuous wait is now on. Students are now be waiting until 16 January, 9pm to be exact, when the first round of university offers will be announced. When I was in that position a few years back, it seemed like I was waiting to hear whether the rest of my life would be ruined, or set on the right track.  The New South Wales HSC results are in. The world still turns. The class of 2013 is possibly breathing a sigh of relief – a shallow breath, because the torturous wait is on. Students are now waiting until 16 January, 9pm to be exact, when the first round of university offers will be announced. When I was in that position a few years back, it seemed like I was waiting to hear whether the rest of my life would be ruined, or set on the right track. 
Every year, the HSC prompts headlines claiming that an exam (this year, maths) is too hard, that the stress put on students is too much, and that the results aren’t indicative of future success. I often find myself nodding along to most of these statements. I remember being told that if we didn’t get the marks we wouldn’t get a place, and even if we did manage to score high enough nothing was guaranteed.Every year, the HSC prompts headlines claiming that an exam (this year, maths) is too hard, that the stress put on students is too much, and that the results aren’t indicative of future success. I often find myself nodding along to most of these statements. I remember being told that if we didn’t get the marks we wouldn’t get a place, and even if we did manage to score high enough nothing was guaranteed.
I went on to do well at university – I have a bachelor’s degree and an honours degree from a reputable university, considered to be among the best at teaching my chosen field. I have a nice job, and will one day tackle post grad. But six years ago, I pretty much blew the HSC. I never even bothered to look at my marks but I assure you that aside from the band 5 for art (my teacher couldn’t contain her excitement), I doubt I scraped a band 4 for anything else. I didn’t get the marks for any course on offer, and yet I’m still standing. My world didn’t end. They didn’t come to take me away. I went on to do well at university – I have a bachelor’s degree and an honours degree from a reputable university considered to be among the best at teaching my chosen field. I have a nice job, and will one day tackle post grad. But six years ago, I pretty much blew the HSC. I never even bothered to look at my marks but I assure you that aside from the band 5 for art (my teacher couldn’t contain her excitement), I doubt I scraped a band 4 for anything else. I didn’t get the marks for any course on offer, and yet I’m still standing. My world didn’t end. They didn’t come to take me away.
Luckily for me, my parents had been mature aged students who knew that university would always be there. They also assured me that rejection would not ruin my future, and that it could in fact be one of the best things to happen to a young person. They also told me that there was more than one path to university, something that had never been pointed out to me by staff during my high school career. Universities offer multiple alternative ways to attend, many of them recognising that the HSC (or state equivalent) isn’t flawless, and that there are students who briefly fell between the cracks but go on to flourish at university. Luckily for me, my parents had been mature students who knew that university would always be there. They assured me that rejection would not ruin my future, and that it could in fact be one of the best things to happen to a young person. They also told me that there was more than one path to university, a detail which had never been pointed out to me by high school staff . Universities offer multiple alternative ways to attend, many of them recognising that the HSC (or state equivalent) isn’t flawless and that there are students who briefly fell between the cracks but go on to flourish at university.
During my final year, I sat on an equity committee made up of staff and students. I remember a senior staff member stating that students as young as 21 could apply for mature entry. There are also principal’s recommendations programs, Indigenous entry programs, and various entry programs that take into account disadvantage and success. Of course, you do not need to go to university straight away. You do not need to go to university at all.During my final year, I sat on an equity committee made up of staff and students. I remember a senior staff member stating that students as young as 21 could apply for mature entry. There are also principal’s recommendations programs, Indigenous entry programs, and various entry programs that take into account disadvantage and success. Of course, you do not need to go to university straight away. You do not need to go to university at all.
It goes without saying that there are some areas where a degree is needed; I like knowing the person filling my teeth had to jump through some pretty intense university level hoops before they let them near my mouth with a drill. However, you do not need a degree to be successful in life. I majored in writing. Do I need a degree to be a writer? No. Does it help? Yes. But so do writers' workshops and TAFE courses. Very few of my favorite authors or famous authors in general majored in writing at university; some didn’t even set foot inside one. Does university guarantee that my work will be published? No. Would failing to get into university have stopped me from getting published? No. It goes without saying that there are some areas where a degree is needed; I like knowing that the person filling my teeth had to jump through some pretty intense university level hoops before they let them near my mouth with a drill. However, you do not need a degree to be successful in life. I majored in writing. Do I need a degree to be a writer? No. Does it help? Yes. But so do writers' workshops and TAFE courses. Very few of my favourite authors majored in writing at university; some didn’t even set foot inside one. Does university guarantee that my work will be published? No. Would failing to get into university have stopped me from getting published? No.
You don't have to take my word for it. Just consider the example of my friend Olivia, with whom I went to school with. When I was sitting my HSC, she lost a baby. Her studies took a back seat to life, but she always knew she’d get back. At 23, she enrolled in the Tertiary Preparation Course. Life still wasn’t a smooth ride. But more recently and with two small children, one of whom was ill with an infection relating to Cystic Fibrosis, she sat her exams with the support of TAFE staff and has since gone on to university, completing her first year studying to be a midwife. You don't have to take my word for it. Just consider the example of my friend Olivia, with whom I went to school with. When I was sitting my HSC, she lost a baby. Her studies took a back seat to life, but she always knew she’d get back. At 23, she enrolled in the Tertiary Preparation Course. Life still wasn’t a smooth ride. But more recently and with two small children, one of whom was ill with an infection relating to cystic fibrosis, she sat her exams with the support of TAFE staff and has since gone on to university, completing her first year studying to be a midwife.
So if in a month you found you didn’t get the mark you needed or the acceptance letter you wanted, you haven’t missed the boat altogether. The next one will be along soon enough – just factor in that public transport isn’t always on time. Take the time to analyse what you want in life. The reality of the current economic climate is that the job you start out in is unlikely to be the job or industry you retire from, so whatever you’ve come up with, be flexible. Get some real world experience. Work. Earn money. Volunteer. Travel. Mature. Then when you’re ready and willing, ask yourself: what’s next? So if in a month you find you didn’t get the mark you needed or the acceptance letter you wanted, you haven’t missed the boat altogether. The next one will be along soon enough – just factor in that public transport isn’t always on time. Take the time to analyse what you want in life. The reality of the current economic climate is that the job you start out in is unlikely to be the job or industry you retire from, so whatever you’ve come up with, be flexible. Get some real world experience. Work. Earn money. Volunteer. Travel. Mature. Then when you’re ready and willing, ask yourself: what’s next?
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