We've Made It
It's been a while...
My last post on here was in March I believe. I wrote a few blog posts in the meantime, but chose not to post them. I haven't looked back at my most recent post, but I highly doubt that it was any good. I felt tired of writing the repetitive VCE subject guides. Initially, this blog was meant to be more personalised and less mundane. I wanted to share stories of VCE day-to-day life, such as the struggles we have all experienced and offering some advice to upcoming students about the things that teachers and students just don't discuss. However, I think I allowed my insecurity to get the better of me. I thought no one would care about these things and would find it more useful if I just rewrote notes and study tips. As a writer for an audience, it is difficult to create a balance of writing what you want and what others want.
I'm glad if my posts were of any assistance to anyone and I did truly enjoy writing for this blog, with my posts about Distance Education and my inspiration wall coming to mind.
Class of 2020...
There's a fair share of memes circulating online, mocking the class of 2020's lack of knowledge and skills acquired through online learning. While these are definitely humorous, I think it's important to recognise that our cohort has had it difficult this year. Senior year comes with a whole host of expectations -- we are looked up to by younger students, we feel the pressure to do well and, mostly importantly, we feel the pressure to create memories which we will tressure forever. School sports events, fundraising events and school celebrations were all taken away from us, trading those experiences for us being locked in our rooms and sitting on our laptops. While I'll be the first to admit that I hate school events, it does sadden me to know that people couldn't live the dream senior year that they hoped to have since they were primary school children in polo shirts.
Despite this, we made it. We suffered through the lack of motivation and the isolation, still ending up with a completed VCE just like the adults around us. While last year's cohort may have had a more extensive study design, we learnt more. We learnt more about ourselves, about what keeps us motivated and how to deal with change. We all now understand what it is like to have our dreams ripped away from us and how we can piece it all back together. We will use our exclusive set of skills to make the future brighter.
I will see you again...
When starting this blog, I questioned what would happen once I finish VCE. I made the assumption that I would just end up writing posts about university. However, as I sit on my bed in my school dress for the second last time before my legal studies exam, I don't think I will. School has been a major part of my identity for the past two years. I'm the girl who is always studying (I actually got a mock award for most hours spent in the study area) and coming to terms that this part of my life was over was actually difficult for me. I felt confused and I still feel a little lost. I really have no clue what is going to happen in my life in the future. I feel like I'm driving a car with a blindfold.
I do really love blogging, despite it being a bit 'old school'. I think blogs aren't the best way to get exposure online, with more flashy social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram appealing to the instant gratification we desire. I don't have anything against these websites and I'm sure they can be great platforms, but I feel as if they can hide things by their users aiming to make their lives seem picture-perfect. I'm not particularly interested in clean, corporate looking media. I would rather read and watch things which express creativity, not made to sell products or create a brand.
In my future blogging, I don't think I will continue to write about my education. I might, but I'm not making an promises. I can't say I have a nice sounding reason for it, I merely don't want to. I'm leaving that girl who sits alone at the front of the classroom. This blog really symbolises that era of my life for me. Since that's now over, I guess this blog is too.
Despite this, blogging will always be something I enjoy and I can imagine myself blogging in the future. Seriously, I really would love to write about my interests outside of school.
Thank you so much for visiting and reading my first ever blog. While it didn't turn out the way I initially planned, I have enjoyed sharing my voice. While I may no longer be posting, my inbox will still be open. As per usual, feel free to express your thoughts in the comments or through my contact page.
Thank you. <3
 |
| The hazel tree is now fully grown. |
Hey there, I can't remember how I got this blog stuck in my bookmarks (probably reddit), but I've been randomly checking it for stuff (and not interacting at all) while procastinating every 6 months or something for the last year for no explicable reason. The effort you put into eloquently writing a blog that few people probably read without any appreciation/acknowledgement for your work and the way you included fancy graphics or posts on random (kinda geeky) topics like school supplies, inspiration & distance education reminds me a lot of the girls I work with - I think some of them also tried blogging lol. Also the random nature references like hazel trees that only they would use. For the record, the study guides you wrote did actually help someone! My own study notes are a similar style to yours, and I hand my own out to people in exchange for snacks (commerce at its finest), so in a way you've helped plenty. I can finally also copy off more of them now since I could only copy/paste the business guides when I accelerated VCE last year. It's not special or anything but I likewise relate to stuff like vehemently avoiding school events as if they're Covid and anything leadership related despite my friend's pleas to participate with their terrifying collections of badges. Losing part of your identity as the kid whose always in the study centre alongside the end of the school social hierarchy I've grown similarly complacent in is something I can see myself relating to in a few years when I graduate as well, since my schemes have been falling short and my school/life 'free trial' is slowly expiring. I'm not sure whats possessed me to write this besides midnight procastination, and I doubt you'll read this, but the lack of comments made me uncharacteristically down so I thought I'd say something 3 months late, if that makes sense. Somewhat doomed passion projects like this remind me of my friends, and I wouldn't want their projects to fizzle out unceremoniously, so I hereby coronate this blog with its first comment (I think?), post-mortem. I'm just rambling at this point. Anyhow, I hope that you forcefully took off that blindfold, moved on and figured out where to drive next in life, although I'm assuming toward student debt and university. Please don't think of stuff like this like as a failure, and good luck.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Thomas Tran :)
It was very kind of you to go out of your way to write such a kind comment, thank you! That's awesome that you give out notes to your peers. Prior to starting VCE, my perception was that it was going to be competitive and even potentially cut-throat as ATAR is a ranking system. Maybe I am too optimistic, but I believe most students had a 'we're all in this together' attitude and your actions reflect that. When looking back on my VCE years, the memories of kind students and supportive teachers will be the ones I cherish the most.
DeleteFortunately, I think I have successfully moved on from my life as a VCE student. I begin university in a couple of weeks and my initial anxious feelings are being replaced with excitement. I still have some worries, like whether I will even enjoy university or if I will feel lost in a bigger, more competitive environment. But I believe this is only natural and is merely a fear of the unknown. I'm not exactly sure what path I want to take, which added to my fear of finishing secondary school. However, I am studying journalism and public relations this year and I'm now looking forward on going on the journey to discover what I specifically want to do. I think I am less nervous at this point as I have a different perspective now. While an important part of my life is over, new doors and opportunities are going to open up to me soon.
I wish you luck with your future studies and thank you for making your school community a better, more supportive place. I'm sure there are people who appreciate your help.