Well done, Class of 2025 – you did it! You’ve finished year 12, which means you’ve survived 13 years of schooling, several existential crises and at least one “I can’t do this anymore” meltdown (probably the night before your maths exam?). And here you are on the other side, bleary-eyed, caffeine-fuelled and absolutely, gloriously done.
Finishing Year 12 is every bit as big a deal as it feels. You’ve worked hard, sacrificed sleep, binge-watched nothing (okay, maybe just a little), and pushed through one of the most stressful times of your life so far. Now it’s over and the question hanging in the air is: what now?
The answer is: whatever you need. Whether that’s sleep (yes, it’s definitely sleep), freedom, travel or just lying face-down on your bed for a week straight, it’s all valid. Let’s take a look at a few ways to make the most of these next few months before the rest of life comes knocking.
First things first: stop. breathe. rest
The last term of Year 12 is a marathon run at sprint pace. You’ve been running on adrenaline, stress and a constant soundtrack of “have you studied enough?” from the well-meaning adults in your life (I am so GUILTY of this, just ask my kids!). So before you even think about the future, just hit pause.
You’ve earned a break, so actually take one.
- Sleep in
- Stay up
- Eat something yummy
- Hang at the beach
- Watch entire seasons of comfort TV (we highly recommend another viewing of Schitt’s Creek)
- Lie under a tree
- Go camping
- Chill with friends
- Read a book that wasn’t suggested by your English teacher
- Go for long walks
- Go to the pub with your mates (if you’re drinking age, of course! Otherwise, go to the movies)
- Make playlists
- Plan your next snack
Let your brain gently deflate after the pressure cooker of exams.
Now, your parents might start nervously hovering, asking about “plans” and “jobs”. Tell them, lovingly, that you’re still buffering. You’ll get there. but right now, you need a few weeks to simply chill.
Results? What results?
Okay, so it might be hard to completely relax. You’re now in that strange purgatory between finishing exams and receiving your results. It’s like being in an emotional waiting room where you know something’s coming, but you can’t do anything about it yet.
So here’s the golden rule: don’t spend this precious time obsessing about your ATAR, TAFE placement or uni offers.
There’s literally nothing you can do until those numbers land.
So push them to the back of your mind and go live your life. Whatever keeps you busy enough not to spiral into the “what ifs”.
And when results do arrive, remember this: a number can’t define your worth or your future. Plenty of people have built amazing careers, started businesses, or discovered passions that have nothing to do with their final mark.
Read this too: 8 different ways to get into uni (if you don’t get the ATAR you need)
3 different pathways you might take
There are MANY different options for you now that you’ve finished year 12, but most people tend to take one of these three:
- Go to uni/another study option,
- Go to work
- Go travelling.
You may have a different go, go, go in mind, but if you’re in for one of those three, here’s what the next few months might look like for you.
Getting ready for study
If you’re heading off to uni, the next few months are your calm before the (hopefully fun and satisfying) storm. Enrolling, orientation, maybe even moving out. Which feels especially big. The sudden realisation that you have to cook and launder for yourself is enough to put a dampener on any sense of independence you may be craving. But needs must, so off you go!
Now’s the time to:
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Sort your paperwork – enrolment, accommodation, student cards, maybe even a Centrelink login (brace yourself).
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Practise basic adulting – if you don’t know this stuff already (and, honestly, I hope you already do), learn to cook three meals that don’t involve toast, get instructions on how to do your washing without shrinking your clothes and understand what “budgeting” actually means. These are the top 3 areas of life you’re going to have to know if you’re moving out of home. Or even if you’re staying… you’re not a school kid anymore, sorry.
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Connect – reach out to people you know who are going to the same uni, join a few online groups and line up a couple of new adventures.
Think of it as a soft launch into independence. There’s no need to have your whole degree or career mapped out at this stage. Most adults still don’t know what they want to be when they grow up (they’re just better at pretending).
Getting straight into work
If you’re heading straight into the workforce, bravo. You’re about to learn more about responsibility, time management and real-lifery than any student ever will.
Maybe you’ve got an apprenticeship, or a retail job or you’re testing the waters before committing to a career path. Whatever it looks like, remember that this is your time to experiment. You’re about to quickly discover what you like, what you’re good at and what you never want to do again (hello, 6am starts).
Take pride in earning your own money and try not to blow it all on Uber Eats and random purchases. Instead, set up a savings account for future plans: travel, study or a “life fund” for the inevitable unexpected expenses. And remember: adulting comes with receipts and you’ll potentially need to keep them for tax purposes.
Getting out and about
If you’re heading off to explore the world (or just the coast), I envy you to bits. This is the one window in life where you can be gloriously unanchored; before full-time work, rent, or uni timetables demand your attention. I travelled extensively when I was your age and it was life changing. I’ve kind of missed it ever since.
Whether it’s a gap year in Europe, a summer road trip with friends or camping your way across Asia, travel is about discovering yourself as much as new places. You’ll learn that the world is much bigger (and far smaller) than you imagined. You’ll also learn that Wi-Fi in hostels is terrible and that travel insurance is never optional.
And if travel isn’t on the cards? No problem. Chill time at home can be just as restorative. Work part-time, volunteer, take a class or start a creative project. Just do something that fills your cup instead of draining it.
The in-betweeners: figuring it out later
Some people have NO IDEA what’s next after they’ve finished year 12 and that’s okay too! Not everyone has a five-year plan (I don’t even have a five-week plan). So calm down about it and just go with the flow for a while. Take this time to explore your options by trying a short course, internships, casual work or starting something creative.
You don’t have to decide your entire future right now. Life has a funny way of unfolding if you stay curious and keep saying yes to opportunities.
So what happens next? Honestly, whatever you want. You’ve reached a rare moment in life where you really do get to ‘choose your own adventure’. There’s no single “right” path, just the one that feels right for you, right now.
Feature image Photo by Aleksandr Neplokhov; beach by Ron Lach
