At the end of the Olympics, it is easy to draw a lot of parallels between the athletes’ experiences and that of Year 12. Feel free to share this with any Year 12 students you may know.
I was in the pool this week, swimming at a very slow, pedestrian pace, considering the gruelling training schedules of the Olympic swimmers. The Australian Swimming team have to be up there as the most highly trained athletes, the world will ever see. I found many parallels between my swim and the Year 12 experience. This will also be good for Year 11s as they soon become school leaders also.
- Break up the training schedule It is very hard to start at the beginning of a training session, plan on a set distance and then just do it. It is much easier to break the whole thing up into manageable chunks. Even when the end result is exactly the same, psychologically shorter distances will be easier to manage. Rather than thinking of a 3km swim/run/row, it will be easier to break this up into 6 x 500m pieces. Then that can be broken down further. It’s the exact same with the terms, the assessment tasks, the exams and the study prep.
- Go out at a comfortable pace If you go out too hard, you will have no energy left at the end of the race. We saw this in the women’s 10km open water swim. So don’t go out too hard. Keep life at a manageable pace. I hear many ex-Year 12’s discuss whether Year 12 is a marathon or a sprint. I think in order to enjoy the year, treat it as a marathon.
- Listen to your coach Make sure you turn to teachers, tutors and staff to ask for help. Many have years of experience under their belt, with lots of good advice to give out. They also know the pitfalls in the road ahead, so listen to them. And ask for their advice.
- Know when to take a break That time will come when you are over it, you have had enough and you feel completely exhausted. Rather than trying to forge ahead, know when it is time to put the pen/book/laptop down and take a break.
- Nutrition and sleep are key for training I am a great believer that health is crucial for progress. Without a good sleeping schedule, some good nutrition and staying fit, it is very hard to keep the Year 12 pace going. Students who have a good balance, are usually the ones who can sustain the pace until the end.
- Know when to take shortcuts In my pool session, I had to cut some corners as I was starting to get completely gassed. Knowing when to cut corners can be helpful. That may be using someone else’s notes (with permission, of course), studying with a friend who understands the content better than you. It may mean doing a speedy learning session. Or using resources you found online that condenses a lot of the work.
- Wellbeing is key The athletes who talk about success usually say that they have achieved a good balance, away from the pool/track/ring/boat/insert-activity. Without good well-being – it can be very hard to focus, stay motivated and remain calm. When stress takes over – get outside and do something physical. Exercise can be a massive stress-buster and anxiety-preventer. If you feel stress levels are reaching a stage that seems not to be within the normal range, then it’s time to seek support and help either with your school counselling team or externally.
- If it gets too much, there is always next time Remember that yes, we all want you to do your best. And yes, we all want you to get what you deserve. But sometimes this may not be your year. And if that is the case, there is always not just another year (to compete in) but a whole other competition awaiting.