• Home
• Studying & Training
• Personal stories
• Starting the VCE years

Roving Reporter Rachael F spoke with a few of the girls from Pascoe Vale Girls College to see how they felt about the all-important years of VCE.

I for one know how daunting it is, having to go through exams and course selections when you're really not even sure what you want from life yet. To be picking subjects that affect the rest of your life when you aren't even old enough to vote or drive is pretty tough!

Isn't there enough to deal with for the young people of today between school, studying, exams, part time jobs, peer group pressure, socializing and trying to fit in time for yourself?

I spoke with a few of the girls from Pascoe Vale Girls College to see how they felt about the all-important years of VCE. High school (VCE included) is the time that everybody tells us was the best time of their lives. The time when they had the most fun and made the most mayhem. But sometimes I find it hard to believe this could ever possibly be true when we have so much planning, prioritising and preparation for the future. And Lucy agrees. "We have so much hard work ahead of us and with all the pressure to do well, I'm actually quite scared of going into VCE next year," she says.

When faced with the VCE Lucy tells me she has a strategy for success. "There are definitely ways to combat the stresses of VCE. You just have to know what to do and what not to do when you get to the stage of studying for exams."

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear "VCE"?

Kirsten: Oh my God!

Emily: End of School life.

Lucy: A lot of hard work but worthwhile in the end.

Caitlin: ENTER scores, essays and exams.

Sophie: Books and study.

Are you looking forward to VCE?

Emily: Yes and no. I mean, it is kind of sad to be growing up and moving out into the world but then again it is such a big step forward in our lives that it's exciting.

Ashleigh: No, because I know I will have to do hard subjects so I can get marked up, to get a higher ENTER score. Like doing maths and I don't like maths so it's kind of hard to decide what to do.

Is there too much pressure for us to get the best marks?

Kirsten: Yes, it's definitely wrong that we should be expected to plan our lives our when we are still immature and don't know the tricks to life.

Ashleigh: I think there is because universities and employers rely too heavily on our ENTER scores and not other work that we have done over the years.

Hannah: I get a lot of support from my family so I don't get that much pressure from others - it's me personally and what my expectations are.

What are some inspirations the help you deal with the pressure?

Emily: I like to talk to people about how I'm feeling a lot. Sport also helps me but mainly I just try and take it a day at a time and realise that if I don't get something done its not going to be the end of the world.

Sophie: Spread the homework out so that I get enough time to do other things besides studying.

Lucy: Just to not freak out and remember that you don't have to be superwoman. Just take the breaks that you need and know 'I'm doing the best that I can.'

What's your strategy for which subjects you choose to do?

Ashleigh: I'll pick the subjects that I enjoy most plus a few that will get high marks. I think I'll base them on what career I want to pursue - something to do with art.

Caitlin: Um, well... I'll do what I like and try not to shut any 'main doors' by keeping the subjects broad and different.

Sophie: I'll choose not just the subjects that I like, but also the ones that will give me high scores.

What do you hope to achieve?

Sophie: High scores and a good job.

Emily: I hope to do well in whatever I choose to do with my life and I have expectations to do well in VCE because I expect highly of myself.

Lucy: The best that I possibly can to get into teaching and learn some tricks that will help me through life.

What expectations do you have and what are your parent's expectations?

Kirsten: I hope to do well but I don't really expect it. My parents think I'm a bright kid and hope and think I will do well. I think they may have higher expectations of me though maybe they don't notice how I actually perform in certain subjects or just choose to ignore it.

Hannah: I think my expectations are higher than what parents are because they just want me to do my best. I want to make them proud and I really want to succeed.

Caitlin: I have very high expectations and so do my parents so I guess we'll see how it works out.

Do you think you can live up to these expectations?

Kirsten: I'm not really sure.

Caitlin: Yes, I think I can.

Hannah: Maybe, well I do hope I can.

When it comes to preparing for VCE, everyone I spoke to agreed that it isn't something you can prepare for too deeply. Basically you just have to dive in and give it everything you've got once you there. You don't really know exactly what to expect until you've experienced it for yourself.

What can I really say about something that is such a major turning point in people's lives? VCE is not the end of the world and as long as you stay focused and try hard; know how to study effectively and not stress out too much; the outcome will be something you know you worked hard for which is all anybody can ask of you.

What I have learnt from the girls of Pascoe Vale is: don't worry! Lots of other people in Australia is going through the exact same thing, as many have done before us. And guess what? They all survived! It may seem hectic at the moment but it will not always be like this. We will all get through these stressful times and hopefully succeed at whatever it is we chose to aim for.

Thanks to the interviewees from Year 10 at Pascoe Vale Girls College for letting me take the time to find out what students are really feeling about facing the years of VCE.

For more advice on how to study, visit our Studying tips & resources page.