TRANSCRIPT
STUDENT 1: "After the HSC I plan to go to University, UNSW. And I plan to do Bachelor of Engineering"
STUDENT 2: "I plan to do law at my desired university, I'll do whatever it takes, if that means doing another degree first then I'll do that."]
High school is almost over for Year 12 students in Australia.
But first, they must do their high school exams.
They are the culmination of their final course of secondary study.
In New South Wales, this is called the Higher School Certificate... in Victoria, the Victorian Certificate of Education, in Queensland, the Queensland Certificate of Education, and so on.
For most, this is the path into university, so pressure is high in these final exams.
But for Sydney student Oojoo Hah, an early offer has relieved that a little.
"Before the early offer I was really stressed on getting the ATAR for engineering which is 90. But after getting the unconditional early offer there's not much of a stress anymore so I'm just trying to get a high ATAR so maybe I can apply for a tutor after this."
For another student, Arisha Erin, her dad's move from Bangladesh to pursue a PhD has been a driving force in her school career.
"Throughout the years, my mom was the one that was pushing me to do well in school, and I found out my dad who came to Australia to do a PhD wasn't actually too worried about it. I think how laid back he was and how he saw education as more of an opportunity rather than a path that inspired me to do well, rather than straight pressure to get something superficial or an a, b, to just keep pursuing knowledge."
For others, like school captain Mitchell Elphick, all the sacrifice has already paid off.
He's already secured a post-school job.
"I've actually been offered to work with the school, with Aboriginal education team. I've done many Aboriginal things with the school with the opportunities they've given me and they've recognised my work for that and they've offered me a position to be a part of that team."
The pressure to perform and find a new beginning is only amplified for newly settled migrants and refugees with many coming from Non-English speaking backgrounds.
Rana Ebrahimi from the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network says it can be difficult for both parents and children.
"Many of them feel they are obliged to meet their family's expectations and their education is viewed as a pathway to success. Families are very sensitive about it, parents are taking care of the kids and sacrifice at some levels to have the best education opportunity for their kids and the kids are feeling that pressure constantly."
Advocacy groups say there are resources to help students make the transition to post-school life and to give them every chance possible so feel comfortable undertaking exams.
Ms Ebrahimi says patience is the key.
"Asking for help and asking questions is not a shame it is a necessary because they are in a new country with a lot of new things so nobody expects them to do everything by themselves they definitely have help, they can seek it and get it."
While school captain Mitchell says it's important to remain positive things will work out amid all the stress of year 12.
"Take any opportunity you can in and out of school and if you don't know what you're doing at the moment just stay in school and it'll catch up with you and I'm sure you'll know at the end of year 12 or after."
