Message for all VCE students of 2020

1. It’s okay to not be good at every subject, but it’s not okay to not try your best.
   We’re not perfect, students and teachers alike. Not many people are gifted with excellence at whatever they choose to do, so it’s okay if you can ace Business Management but not do as well in Physics. However, that doesn’t mean that you study so much just to pass Physics when you could’ve achieved 70% in a SAC. When you do something not to your fullest, you’re wasting your capability. Always trying your best and contending with the results is much better than doing just enough and regretting later.
2. It’s okay to not understand something, but it’s not okay to not ask.
   There may be lots of reasons that you don’t understand the lesson. Maybe the teacher’s explanation is confusing. Maybe you’re tired and can’t comprehend the lesson as effectively as you would. However, no reason can justify your not asking for help from teachers or friends. If you hide your incomprehension and do nothing about it, YOU are the one who is responsible for low performance, not teachers.
3. It’s okay to have fun in class, but it’s not okay to disrespect teachers.
   Ideally, classrooms should be fun AND educational. It’s not a playground where you can have fun 24/7. So it’s okay to make jokes in class, but doing so to the point of disrupting the whole class’ learning flow, it’s disrespectful. It’s disrespectful to your teachers who are trying to help you learn. It’s disrespectful to your classmates who want to focus on learning. It’s also a waste of time when teachers have to stop the lesson and address your behavioural issues when it could’ve been spent on learning new content or practicing more exercises. Be wise at using your time.
4. It’s okay to muck around with your friends, but it’s not okay to not recognise their reactions. Many people think “bully” is only when you repeatedly physically harm a person. “Bully” definition covers much more than that. When you muck around with one particularly ‘friend’ who shows clear signs of annoyance but you keep doing it because you think it’s fun, you are a bully. When you keep making condescending jokes about a classmate when they’re trying to study because “we are friends. We do that all the time sir”, you are a bully. You need to learn how to read the reaction and feelings of whoever you’re interacting with to see whether what you’re doing or saying is appropriate and welcoming, or inappropriate and hurtful.
5. It’s okay to try get correct answers, but it’s not okay to be frustrated over mistakes.
   It is very good that you can get 100% in a SAC. However, if you condemn yourself because you only get ...99%, it’s not okay. You are not perfect, your teachers are not perfect, nobody is perfect. Mistakes are your chances to become better. Mistakes are only unacceptable when you make the same mistake over and over again without learning anything from it. Remember, “trying to do the right thing the right way” is different from “trying not to have any mistakes at all”.
6. It’s okay to work hard, but it’s not okay to overwork yourself.
   We teachers not only care about your academic performance, but also your wellbeing. We’ll be glad if we see that you have finished all of your homework, but we’d be very concerned if you come to class tired with dark under-eye circles. Hard work is highly recommended, but we don’t want to see you skip your lunch just to do more practice SACs. YOU are important, as well as your body and mental health. Take care of yourself. Allow yourself some time to relax and ‘reboot’. Work smart (more effectively), not hard.
7. It’s okay to be smart, but it’s not okay to use it as a justification for being lazy.
   Being smart is cool. Being smart AND lazy is not cool. It’s a waste. It shows you are not taking yourself seriously. And if YOU, of all people, are not taking yourself seriously, you should not expect other people to respect you. It’s not about getting something done, it’s about using your potential in a meaningful way.
8. It’s okay to understand your rights as a student, but it’s not okay to deliberately forget your obligations as a student.
   You have the right to be treated fairly, the right to complain, the right to receive adequate training to achieve academic goals. By State and Federal legislation, you as a student also have the obligation to complete all of assigned work, to submit them on time, to respect teachers and schoolmates, and to follow school’s policies and procedures. So next time you want to act up in class because you have “rights”, think if you have fulfilled your obligations.
9. It’s okay to have reactions, but it’s not okay to lack self-control.
   Your classmates tease you and you have the temptation to react to that, that’s okay. But “Sir he started it first” is never a reasonable excuse for you to leave your seat and “take revenge” during class time, especially against the teachers’ instructions. That’s disrespectful. You have to learn how to control yourself and react appropriately. You are studying in a very safe, friendly and professional environment. If you can’t stand a little tease now, you’re going to have a much harder time as an adult.
10. It’s okay to focus on school, but it’s not okay to ONLY focus on school.
    Ranking 1st in Business Management is great, but do you know how to make an omelet? Do you know how to keep a conversation going with a stranger? Do you know how to operate your washing machine? Do you have a proper posture? Do you know how to maintain your personal hygiene? Other than what you’ve been taught at school, there are a lot of important skills that you need that can affect your success after graduation. More than just textbooks, stay curious with everything around you, learn everything you can. “Stay hungry, stay foolish”.