It’s More Than Just Year 12

A little about me

Sports:

My go-to way to switch off is definitely sports. I love playing basketball, cricket and soccer. Honestly, it’s not just about the score; it’s the camaraderie and the grit you need to pull through a tough game that I really value. It keeps me grounded, focused, and reminds me that collaboration always wins!

Mathematics, Science and Finance:

When I head back inside, my brain immediately clicks into problem-solving mode. I’ve always been captivated by the mathematical, scientific and financial worlds. I genuinely enjoy the complexity, the challenge of taking a huge, messy problem, and breaking it down with logic – that’s called first principles thinking. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing the elegant, ordered structure that underlies everything, from a high-level chemistry concept to the forces that drive markets.

Philanthropy:

I’m hoping to use all that logical horsepower for something meaningful down the track. My big aspiration is to take the skills I’m learning in these areas, especially in management and resource allocation, and put them to work by serving undeveloped or struggling communities. I truly believe that using my specific gifts and talents is the best way I can make a real and lasting difference.

My Subjects/Results

• English Advanced
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Mathematics Extension 1
• Mathematics Extension 2

My School life

School life at Pacific Hills has been so much more than just classes and exams, it’s where I’ve learned the true value of community.

A recent experience that completely shifted my perspective was the India Mission Trip in December 2024. Seeing the dedication and hope in the communities we served was humbling. It wasn’t just about the work we did – it was about connecting with people whose lives are so different from ours. That trip really cemented my long-term goal to use my skills to serve others, showing me a real-world application for everything I’m learning and experiencing in life.

Outside of those big milestones, a lot of my school experience has been built around the sheer joy of competing. I’ve loved representing Pacific Hills, not just for the win, but because I get to play alongside my closest friends on the school sports teams. Whether it’s training after hours or cheering each other on during a tough match, those shared moments of effort and victory are some of my best school memories!

More broadly, I feel incredibly lucky to have helped build such a strong school culture within our grade. The excursion, camps and various school events aren’t just for fun – they’ve been crucial in creating a tight-knit community. We really lean on each other and knowing I’m part of a supportive network at Pacific Hills makes every challenge, academic or otherwise, feel a lot more manageable.

My Routine

During the term and in the holidays

My approach to Year 12 was pretty simple, but absolutely non-negotiable: consistency over intensity. I quickly learned that waiting until the week before an exam to cram was a recipe for stress and burnout. I genuinely hated those overwhelming nights. So, instead of sprinting and crashing, I decided to walk a steady marathon.

Scheduling

This consistency meant setting up daily, repeating time blocks, and sticking to them for the whole term. I wasn’t just scheduling study – I was scheduling rest, too. The goal was to start early and never stop, but also never feel swamped.

Here’s what my full-day, fixed schedule looked like on days without other major commitments:

“It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently.” This focus on small, repeated habits is what made the difference. Learning Guild has proved that spaced repetition and consistent effort (the core of my schedule) leads to stronger memory retention rather than last-minute cramming, where 80% of information is typically forgotten within two weeks. I would add this schedule to my calendar every day when I had nothing major to do, and stick to it.

Process

There was a bunch of resources that I used, but the ones that I used most of the time were:

• Matrix Education: One of the most impactful aspects of my Matrix experience has been their incredible Holiday Courses. Imagine walking into a new school term already familiar with the core concepts and topics you’re about to learn. That’s exactly what my Holiday Courses provided me! By diving deep into the next term’s content during the holidays, I gain an invaluable head start. This means that when my school classes begin, I’m not learning new material from scratch; instead, I’m reinforcing concepts, clarifying doubts, and building upon a pre-existing foundation. This early exposure frees up an entire term’s worth of time during school weeks to focus on what truly matters for exams: extensive practice with exam-style questions and tackling past papers. It’s a game-changer for reducing my stress and building genuine confidence. These Holiday Courses would allow me to learn the content for next term which gave me a head start!
• THSConline and Studocu: Online websites that include countless amounts of free past papers/notes from different subject areas and schools (most including solutions). THSConline and Studocu was the way to go for me personally. Since most papers included working solutions, I learnt the tricks that high levelled students and markers would look out for. In my study slots, I would typically attempt a past paper and mark it myself after. If you aren’t using THSConline, you’re already behind!

Staying on top without distractions

I fight distractions by:

• Placing my phone in a different room.For me personally, I would leave my phone downstairs while I study upstairs. This is so you don’t constantly look over to your phone and check your notifications or updates.
• Remaining consistent in what I do.Whether that be in your studies, fitness or something you love to do. This will remove any sort of boredom or distraction that may come.
• Not studying in the library.There are so many distractions, from gossip to temptations, to going to a cafe, to people walking around. If you want focused study, do it at home, in a quiet space where you feel comfort and warmth.

My advice to future Year 12 students

 3 things you must do in Year 12

1. Enjoy your last year at school.

This is it, your last ever year of school! I know that HSC feels massive, but in the grand scheme of your life, it’s just one pathway among many. You will face adult stresses and complications soon enough, so treat this Year 12 journey with care, fun and joy.

Your focus here should be on community. Bond deeply with your grade, enjoy those goofy, crazy times together and intentionally build long-term connections. Take it relatively easy on yourself. A high ATAR is great, but don’t sacrifice your well-being or your friendships for a single number. Remember: there are countless pathways into university and careers that you haven’t even discovered yet. However, don’t just throw away your workbooks right now, because the HSC allows you to build character, overcome challenges, adapt to situations, and address problem solving techniques.

2. Address roadblock head-on.

Whether they are academic slumps, relationship challenges, or unexpected personal issues, when you face these moments, don’t take it personally. Remain focused and most importantly, address the problem head-on. Life is complex and full of uncertainties. Instead of letting problems derail you, realise that they are simply part of the journey. Every challenge you encounter is a lesson in disguise. Learn from every single setback, adjust your approach, and keep moving forward. That ability to adapt is far more valuable than any textbook knowledge.

3. Have a greater purpose than just academics.

Academics can be satisfying and intriguing – it has been drilled down into you from the day you started kindergarten, but realise that there is more to life than academics. What I mean by this is finding your purpose in life. Is it spiritual? Is it philanthropy? Is it creating a revolutionary item? This purpose will not only stick to you in your HSC year but stick to you for the rest of your life!

3 things you must NOT do in Year 12

1. Do not be afraid to try new things:
   Join a new club. Play a sport. Learn the bass. Any skill can be applicable and helpful in increasing your overall knowledge. Even better, these skills can help distract you from the anxieties and stress of the HSC!
2. Do not do something for the status.
   Are you doing Mathematics Extension 2, but want to become an author like JK Rowling? This is common among students because they want external appreciation. Just because the name of the subject sounds complicated or is known to be “prestigious”, doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for you. It’s like saying you want to go to UNSW for the prestigious effect, but they don’t offer your dream course.
3. Do not compare yourself with others.
   Social media and even the schoolyard can become comparison traps. Don’t fall into the cycle of comparing your study routine, your marks or your predicted ATAR with anyone else’s.

Everyone has a unique set of circumstances, different strengths, and different goals. Comparing yourself only leads to unnecessary anxiety and self-doubt. You might see a friend studying for 10 hours a day and feel guilty, but maybe your two hours of deep, focused work was more effective. Stay focused on your own plan (The consistent schedule you outlined!), and measure your progress only against your previous self. Your journey is your’s alone and that’s okay!

In the end, Year 12 was never just about chasing a number for me. It was about building discipline, finding purpose, and learning how to show up consistently for both myself and the people around me. Your ATAR is a milestone, but the habits, relationships and sense of direction I gained along the way are what will carry me forward long after school ends. If there’s one thing I hope you take away, it’s this: invest in who you’re becoming, not just what you’re achieving. Everything else will follow.