‘Why do we celebrate the end of high school before final exams are over?’

The first of my three children marks a major milestone next week – finishing high school.

When I filled out the enrolment form as he started Year 7, the graduating year of 2026 seemed like a long way away.

And now we’re here.

My son has one exam left to complete next week, and then he is done. His secondary school studies will be over.

It does, however, feel like an anti-climax. I know we often look back with rose-coloured glasses, but when I finished high school, all of our graduation events happened AFTER we had completed our exams.

We stayed focused on our studies, did the exams, and then when it was all over we celebrated – marking the end of an era with graduation assemblies, awards nights, muck up days, and farewells. Then we took the next steps into life after school.

Now, all the end of school events happen BEFORE the final exams.

In the weeks before the tests get underway, students should be buckled down in their books revising and completing past papers and focused on the work that needs to be done.

Instead, they are in the throes of the many end of year events and celebrations and experiencing all the emotional highs and lows that come with putting a full stop on your school years.

Read more

This common habit could decrease your HSC results

Dinners, formals, valedictory events, muck up days, assemblies and services all happen before the final exam pens are put to paper.

It takes a lot to then shift gears away from celebration and farewell mode and back into study.

Then, when the exams ARE finally over, there’s no big release of all the pent-up focus and emotions, apart from schoolies week.

And we wonder why some students go overboard in those celebrations.

It’s a big moment when a student finishes high school – daunting and exciting in equal measure. It’s a moment that should be celebrated.

I just wish the celebrations could happen after it is all over. When the exams are done and dusted, which is almost here.