Inarrabri

14 | iNarrabri Magazine

Feature

Interviews by Craig Jollow

Any tips for your Year 11

colleagues on how to prepare for

their final examinations?

Izac:

Don’t leave study to the last

minute and take every opportunity

to ask teachers for assistance. They

will do anything they can to help.

Eliza:

Summarise your work, even

read through what you did that

day will help. Do past papers, use

flashcards, Quizlet, write notes and

get your parents to quiz you. Do

anything that helps you and will

help you get what you need.

Alex:

Do lots of past papers and

don’t get too stressed - your

exams aren’t everything.

Mat:

Preparation and organisation

is key so know your course syl-

labus, don’t leave study to the last

minute, maintain a healthy balance

between, study, sport and social

life and remember your HSC and

ATAR results are not the end of the

world.

Gemma:

My most valuable piece

of advice would be to tell yr 11

students not to stress. I know it can

be hard not to at times but I know

I spent far too much time stress-

ing and in the end it’s not worth it.

Study hard and you’ll achieve the

results you deserve.

Connor:

Start preparation within

plenty of time. If you can get into

a nice routine with study it seems

just as much of a natural reflex as it

does a conscious task.

Were your exams what you

expected and which one did you

really enjoy?

Izac:

They weren’t as hard as I

expected and were easier than the

trial exams. Music was the most

laid back exam I had. The general

atmosphere of it with it being held

in the music room instead of the

hall made it much less stressful.

Eliza:

Some were what I expected,

others were not at all, but that’s life

I guess. I really enjoyed my Drama

exam as I studied a lot and did all

the past papers for it so I knew

what I was in for!

Alex:

my exams were as I expected.

By doing the past HSC papers you

find trends in the papers so noth-

ing comes as a surprise when you

sit your actual HSC. I really enjoyed

the music exam as it is quite differ-

ent to every other exam and the

best part is it is only an hour long.

Mat:

I didn’t really know what to

expect heading into the exams. I

think you can waste a lot of time

worrying about what might and

mightn’t be in the exam. Like I said

earlier, if you know your course

and have done the study, the

results will reflect that hard work.

I really enjoyed the mathemat-

ics paper as I put in a lot of study

through multiple past HSC ques-

tions which have hopefully paid off

in the exam.

Gemma:

I expected some of

the papers to be slightly easier,

based on their trials but I’m pretty

happy with how I handled most

of my HSC exams regardless. The

advanced English papers were my

favourite because I felt the most

prepared for them and it’s my best

subject.

Connor:

surprisingly I found the

exams to be a pleasant challenge

more than something to be scared

of which was something I didn’t

expect. I enjoyed my chemistry

exam the most as it is my favourite

subject and I found the content

was really good and fitted in well

with how I studied the course.

What are you hoping to do in

2016?

Izac:

I hope to study Environmen-

tal Science & Management at the

University of Newcastle.

Eliza:

In 2016 I will be undergoing

a Bachelor of Creative Arts special-

ising in Theatre at the University of

Wollongong.

Alex:

I’m hoping to attend New-

castle University to study Environ-

mental Engineering.

Mat:

I’m planning a gap year in

2016 before uni in 2017. Next year

I plan to work around the Narrabri

District and then possibly head

over to Canada to work and travel.

Gemma:

I definitely want to attend

university in the future however I’m

unsure whether it will be in 2016 or

2017 with a gap year a possibility. It

all depends on my HSC results and

ATAR but hopefully I will achieve

my goal of attaining a bachelor

degree so I’m happy with whatever

my future holds.

Connor:

It is my hope to study

a double Bachelor of Sport and

Exercise Science/Bachelor of Physi-

otherapy.

Is ‘Schoolies Week’ over-rated?

Your rating 1-10

Izac:

Personally, I think it is over

-rated. The idea of ‘Schoolies

Week’ doesn’t appeal to me. 3/10

Eliza:

Maybe... Personally I didn’t

go as it isn’t my thing but a few

of my friends have so I guess it

just depends on the person and

whether they are interested in go-

ing. 5/10 - I’m on the fence!

Alex:

The whole point of school-

ies is to blow off some steam after

school with a bunch of mates.

Although ‘schoolies’ on the Gold

Coast isn’t my scene, I’m going to

New Zealand with some friends for

a couple of weeks. I definitely don’t

think it is over-rated. 3/10

Mat:

While the idea of ‘schoolies’

is quite sound, over the years it is

evident through news and mass

mediums that it can get out of

hand especially at the Gold Coast.

Personally, working and making

money which could eventually take

me over to Canada sounds better

in the long run. While I believe it

comes down to each individual’s

perspective, I therefore rate it 7/10.

Gemma:

I just spent my time with

friends and family relaxing and

having fun. I don’t think going

away to the coast or overseas is

necessary if you can enjoy yourself

right here at home. So, based on

my lack of experience with ‘School-

ies Week’ yes, I think it might be

overly hyped up. About 6/10.

Connor:

I don’t find it over-rated,

as it makes sense to spend some

time relaxing and cooling off after

the HSC period. Although the Gold

Coast isn’t overly appealing to me

I think that the best way to blow

off steam after the HSC would be

to spend enjoyable time with close

friends. 7/10

Long term goals?

Izac:

I want to complete my degree

so I can help with environmental

recovery programs. I also want

to join a band as a guitarist and

continue playing soccer at higher

levels.

Eliza:

I don’t know yet, I’m yet to

be enlightened!

Alex:

Travel the world and be suc-

cessful at what I do.

Mat:

To obtain a degree and find

a job that I like is my ultimate goal

but also to travel around the world

and experience the different won-

ders we live amongst.

Gemma:

Ultimately, I just hope

to be happy. I want to surround

myself with good people and work

doing something I love.

Connor:

My long term goals are to

pursue a career at the Australian

Institute of Sport, and compete in

high levels of athletics and AFL.

THE HSC AND BEYOND...

With their final school examination behind them, we spoke to Yr

12 Narrabri H.S students Izac Finn, Eliza Tame, Alex Hamilton,

Matthew Hall, Gemma Ferguson, and Connor Richardson to dis-

cuss the tests and their hopes for the future.

photoS: jILL JOLLOW

Izac

Eliza

Alex

Mat

Gemma

Connor