ALLY Smith was in her Biology Higher School Certificate trial exam when the government announced the Hunter was going into lockdown.
"I felt so scared," Ally said of August 5.
"A few weeks after that I was thinking 'That Thursday could have been my last day of school and I wouldn't have even known'."
The Whitebridge High student said she will forever be grateful that it wasn't.
Her cohort marked their last day of school on Friday with sporting activities, following two dress up days last week. Ally and her friend Ava Doyle said it felt "surreal".
"Walking in this morning I was looking at everything going 'This is probably the last time I'm going to walk through this school and actually go to class and things - although we will be coming in for the HSC - it's everyone together for the final time," Ally said.
The girls said they had relished being able to return to school after lockdown and spend time with their teachers and friends.
"Being with everyone you realise everyone is going through the same thing, they're experiencing similar struggles, so that was comforting to know," Ava said.
For Ally, teachers saying hello in hallways and for Ava, being able to raise a hand in class were small things that made a big impact.
Across the state, the official last day for year 12 was September 17, during lockdown.
Schools allowed year 12 students to come in during remote learning for help, at first on an individual basis and then in study bubbles of up to five.
Schools have been able to welcome back their entire year 12 cohorts from October 18, but have made their own decisions about attendance, how students spend their time on site and when their cohorts will commence independent study, before their exams begin on November 9.
"Everyone's got that 'Have I prepared enough?' and 'There's not enough time'," said Ava, whose exams are all in the first fortnight.
"Being back at school with teachers giving us one on one assistance has been helpful, rather than having to ask a question online and wait for a response via email".
Ally's exams are spread over a month.
"It hasn't clicked that it actually is going to happen in a week, I think after the first exam I'll think 'This is actually happening, it's time to knuckle down'," Ally said.
"Because of being pushed back a month it felt like it was cancelled to be honest."
Despite the disruption, both were glad to be able to sit the tests.
Ava said she saw the HSC as a "final goal" to wrap up 13 years of schooling.
"To not do it and totally disregard the work you've put in throughout the year was frustrating, so I was ready to do it."
She said her teachers and being in a classroom environment helped her stay focused.
"To know you're so close, why give up now?" Ally said her motivation had wavered.
"It did feel exhausting when it got pushed back but it would have felt wrong to finish school without it... I don't want to give up now or I'll regret it at the end."
Ally said the pandemic had been a lesson in gratitude and perspective.
"In the bigger scheme of things we're all healthy and we're all safe, so there are always positives and negatives to these situations."
ST Francis Xavier's College Hamilton captain Jayden Wright said his cohort experienced a range of emotions on their last day, when they attended a liturgy and teachers clapped them out.
"Other people were pretty emotional and a little bit upset, but it was a pretty exciting time for myself," Jayden, 18, said.
"Moving into the real world now feels a little surreal, but I'm glad to be moving right along. I've had a goal for a long time to join the RAAF and do aeronautical engineering and that opportunity is really close now, starting in January next year."
Jayden said he had been accepted into the defence force and needs an ATAR of 85 for a place in the UNSW degree.
Jayden said his motivation dipped during remote learning, but improved this term when he's been able to see his teachers and friends.
"My nerves have turned into a little bit of confidence, but there are still definitely nerves there," he said.
Jayden said he's made good memories at school.
"Seeing my mates every day and learning and bettering myself every day has been a very important part of my life and I've enjoyed it thoroughly."
He said he was proud of the cohort's resilience and their teachers' hard work over the past two years.
"[My co-captain] Ava Gidley summed it up really nicely, she said 'If you would have told me at the start of year 11 that we would have had our 18th birthdays in lockdown, our trial exams would have been cancelled and we would have spent 50 per cent of our stage six time at home I would have laughed at you and told you I wouldn't be able to do it'." He has cancelled two interstate trips and will play celebrations by ear.
Students will start HSC exams on November 9 and get their ATARs on January 20.
SFX will have a graduation dinner on December 3.
