Ok this is my first post since i joined BoS, Yes that was last year, and i have to admit, this is one hell of a thread to bond with fellow pessimistic and rebellious students.
Most of the ideas discussed in this thread are quite true -regarding how the HSC is F***ing overrated. Most of the subjects are pretty much useless in reality. Like who's goign to need to have prior knowledge about bloody exponential functions, kings of Persia, critical English studies like postmodernism - will they help you get chicks? (okay maybe it will for some guys, but not the majority).
1. Teachers add to this ... misery - they emphasise how you have to do well in the HSC to get a high UAI and become some rich ass bastard living in a 90 story house. Conversely, those who are not doing so well, are told to get a move on or face relegating comments to make you feel even more like a worthless piece of crap - 'YOU COULD'VE DONE BETTER'. Furthermore, there is the occasional threat by the authoritive principle who threatens students doing bad by 'I'LL CALL YOUR PARENTS, AND SEND YOU A N-AWARD'. Like do we need to get told off for not being bright? THERE ARE PEOPLE IN SOCIETY WHO ARE NOT AS BRIGHT, I SWEAR. Even this 'N-award', it's like commemorating you're intelligence - by that i mean having an IQ like Paris Hilton, add salt into the wound please!
2. Parents. Yes, the biggest problem of all. They force you to study, they tell you off when you're bludging, they blackmail you for better marks, they practically make you feel like shit. THEY TELL YOU THAT DOING WELL IN THE HSC WILL GET YOU A BETTER FUTURE. WRONG. I SAY.
Even during those years prior to year 12, they tell you off to study for those exams that are not relevant for the HSC. Yes even in primary, even in year seven. But of course, you would need the fundamentals of english, maths, science but still. Why did we bother with the other subjects? Let alone strain ourselves more than enough?.
But as a message to all y'all and a message to myself.
The HSC is JUST ONE way to be successful and the most common. But, Increasingly, the most successful people will knock out those people who are disadvantaged out of their place in the sun. see this article
http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=1875 - seems like society is getting smarter - for those who are smart.
So therefore, ponder . ponder . ponder . The HSC ain't the only way. I SAY -
SUFFER NOW AND BE REWARDED LATER - remember to look towards the end of the tunnel, the bright, luminous end. Though it is dark and gloomy now, i't won't be once you reach your destination. (FFS THIS IS SOUNDING LIKE THE ENGLISH PHYSICAL JOURNEYS RABBLE RABBLE)