THE HUNTER's class of 2020 never expected their final year of schooling would involve a pandemic, remote learning and the cancellation of many of their much-anticipated milestone events.
But St Mary's Catholic College Gateshead students said while COVID-19 may have been a speed hump in their preparation for the Higher School Certificate, it has also imparted important lessons about learning independently, resilience and perspective.
Olivia Tindall and Robbie Gattens were among their school's 70 pupils to start their trial exams on Monday, the last major tests before final exams start on October 20.
"It was really challenging when we went into online learning," Olivia said.
"The teachers weren't on top of you, watching you in class and you had to gain that independence and be responsible for your own learning.
"It was insight into life after school - we were growing skills to be independent learners. We still had a lot of support from teachers, but it was definitely a challenge and took a while to adjust to."
The school decided soon after moving to remote learning to divide the day into four 80 minute periods instead of six 50 minute periods. The fourth period was set aside for students to work on assessments, or come in to school and work on major works.
When students were allowed to make a staggered return to classrooms, St Mary's size meant it could allow all of year 11 and 12 to return five days a week, which Olivia and Robbie said helped them feel more motivated.
"Despite being apart we're now more connected with another," Robbie said.
"We all get along and all learn from each other. We're using other people's knowledge and sharing our knowledge - it feels good having those bonds with other people."
The pair said completing school during COVID-19 had changed them.
"When I look at myself at the start of the year I've grown so much as a person," Olivia said.
"We still received everything we wanted, just in a different way.
"It's not the end of the world - we're going to make it through this year."
Robbie said their cohort had not had the usual year 12 experience, "so this is just what my year 12 is".
"It will be a reward," he said. "Despite it being a storm, we're walking through and we're fine.
"We've been able to progress as people a lot faster and more than we may have in a regular year. We've encountered challenges but we became stronger and more connected and we can reflect back and know we achieved, we succeeded."
He said it had reinforced their ability to adapt and that "we are all in this together".
"It's not just our year group or even our state - everyone is dealing with the same thing," Olivia said.
The cohort's first exam was English Paper 1, Texts and Human Experiences. Students were given four short answer questions based on unseen texts and an essay question on The Crucible.
"It was what I expected, what I prepared for," Robbie said.
"We could sit the exam with confidence and come out feeling good."
Olivia agreed. "The questions reflected what we focused on in class and I felt I was confident in what I was writing," she said.
They have English Paper 2 on Tuesday and more exams this and next week.
The pair said they would balance studying with activities that would boost their wellbeing.
"I feel I'm on the right track for success in the HSC, that we have prepared well and are working hard enough - despite what happened this year - to succeed," Robbie said.
Olivia has been told trials are more difficult than the HSC, "which is promising after today".
"If we continue the way we're working we can achieve well in the HSC," she said. "We still have two months to go and a lot of time to grow and develop our understanding further."
The school has had to cancel its graduation mass and assembly, as well as its formal.
Robbie and Olivia have had to cancel their schoolies trips, to Queensland and Fiji respectively.
The state government has announced public schools cannot have school formals, dances, graduations or other social events, but a year 12 assembly without parents is permitted.
"It's upsetting, but we understand given the circumstances," Olivia said.
"We know the teachers and everyone are working to let us graduate and do something to show we made it through.
"The formal was something everyone was looking forward to.
"It's a big loss and sad, but there's not much we can do."
Robbie said he'd accepted it. "I know the consequences [and risks] of having those things," he said.
"I think to say we should have them or are entitled to them is a bit selfish - people have lost jobs and have real difficulties."
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