After months of waiting, the final straw of students’ schooling years has come and the anxious wait is finally over.

Wagga High School’s Year 12 student Matilda O’Connor said despite having some early university course offers, she is still nervous. 

“I’m feeling pretty good and having some early university offers under my belt I am probably feeling a little bit more at ease compared to some of my peers,” she said. 

“But with all the effort over the past years and stress coming down to tomorrow morning, I’m nervous no matter what. 

“I think as students we’re all aware that an ATAR is not the be-all-end-all and that there are many pathways, but in the back of my mind I still keep thinking about what if it’s a bad score.” 

Ms O’Connor said the support she has received throughout her schooling journey has meant that Thursday’s result release has become a “family ordeal”. 

“I think my family will be very nervous around 6am because it’s a whole family ordeal and they’ve been alongside me,” she said. 

A Wagga counsellor Clive Murphy said an ATAR is just one phase of their lives. 

“It’s very easy for students to dwell on the problem and so the first thing I would advise students to do is focus on the solution to their results, rather than the problem,” Mr Murphy said. 

“Even if students are not happy with their result they need to switch their thinking to finding a solution, looking at their options, what is possible, where they can go.

“Otherwise, it’s easy to put absolutely everything on their HSC results, but really it is just taking them to another point.” 

Mr Murphy wanted to reassure students that a score does not change who they are as a person.

“They need to remember that their family and friends will still love them for who they are as a person,” he said. 

“They need to take all the emphasis off the result, because they’re still the same person and even Einstein failed – it’s not the end of the world.” 

Retiring senior geography and history teacher at Mater Dei Anne Smith said students do not have to make their career path now. 

“This is just a snapshot of where they are at one given time and some students don’t make up their career minds until they’re 30-years-old. 

“It’s never too later to make a choice.

“As long as they maintain a balance and work really hard but also take time out to enjoy themselves.” 

Careers adviser at Wagga Christian College Jenny Azar said the “doors rarely close”, no matter what students’ HSC is. 

“There will be a pathway that will get any student where they want to be if they want it enough,” she said. 

“All units have special entry program for students that didn’t get the mark they needed.” 

Mrs Azar recommended students constantly checking their emails for each round of offers. 

“These university offers go right up until next year when the course commences,” she said. 

“Accept everything and then go back and pull out once you have the best option and check all the dates that must be adhered to for gaining a position. 

“If they are really at a loss, then students should go back to school and talk to their teachers for direction.” 

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