How to Survive Grade 12

We all worry about how we will survive grade 12 as we begin our final year of high school, our final year before we are off in the real world. There is no one tip for how to survive grade 12, because it is a hectic time in everyone’s life.

We need to know how to survive grade 12, or the “killer year.” The year of stress and tears; relationships are strained and the understanding you have of yourself may really be questioned because of the high stress situations you will face. You may experience one or all of these things this school year, but grade 12 I am here to tell you that you can do this!

Grade 12 is the year where you have more freedom in your courses. Your lessons are actually interesting because of how in-depth they go, and you have more say in how you complete your assignments and projects. That being said, it is not the year to take lightly, as you will have to make several tough decisions (to be a post-secondary attendee or not to be, that is the question). I am not the first to say that grade 12 was something I would not want to go through again. However, I did enjoy some aspects of it despite the tears and moving through many mornings mechanically because of sleep deprivation. 

Having been through it myself now, there are definitely some habits and tricks that helped me survive the experience and some that I could have ditched. I was the Governor General recipient at my graduation in June. I couldn’t have achieved this award without my studious habits, and I would like to share them with you now to prepare you for success this upcoming school year! So, let’s learn how to survive grade 12.

Studying tips

Do NOT procrastinate.

The first tip for how to survive grade 12 is easier said than done, I know, especially when a friend invites you out to that movie you really want to see or you’ve just started watching that new show on Netflix and you’re now addicted. It’s so easy to put your schoolwork on the back burner. DO NOT DO THIS. The work will quickly build up and become a pile of guilt that you will be afraid to even approach because you have no clue where to start. Get the work out of the way ASAP, even if you have to divide it up into different days. As long as you’re diligent you will get it done. Doing this also avoids cramming, which is a big no-no. You can make so many mistakes doing this, and your brainy cannot retain all of the information it needs to when you cram for a test. In short, get the work out of the way as soon as you can. That way you can enjoy your free time without the guilt from knowing there is work to be done! 

Ask for help.

If you really don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to approach the teacher. They will be happy to help you and will appreciate you coming to them as it shows you want to succeed in their class. The subjects in grade 12 can be a lot harder (hello, biology! Waaaay different than the grade 11 course) and it is easy to get lost. Do what you need to do to ensure you understand the lessons completely. 

Take short breaks.

It’s easy to get lost in time when focusing on studying for an exam or finishing a summative assignment, but giving yourself fifteen minute breaks every hour can do wonders for the mind and body. You’ll be more encouraged to finish whatever work you are doing and your brain will have time to refresh. Getting up from your desk to stretch and grab a snack is a great way to split the time up.

PUT. THE PHONE. AWAY.

Seriously. It’s a major distraction, we all know it. Leave it in a different room from where you’re working, out of site and on silent mode. Tell yourself you won’t check it until your work is done. It will feel much more rewarding that way, and you won’t feel bad if a quick scroll on Instagram accidentally turns into three hours late at night and your unfinished assignment due tomorrow is still sitting in front of you.

Find a quiet, relaxing space to work.

Some people work well in busy environments. I personally can’t focus. My studying space has to be quiet and neat. I usually study at home in my room or at Starbucks on Sunday morning when I’m one of the few customers in the store. Playing calming instrumental or relaxation music works for some people, just don’t play anything too loud or aggressive that you’re focusing on the music more than the material you’re studying. Try searching “Brain Food” playlists on Spotify or YouTube, they’re my go-to music for studying!

Relationship tips

Try to avoid drama in relationships.

It distracts you from your goals and only adds unnecessary stress. Really, is it going to matter in a year that Sally got in a fight with Becky at that one party? No, it’s not. Chances are in a year these people won’t even be thinking about that fight; they’ll be too focused on surviving post-secondary school.

Don’t give in to peer pressure.

This past year I found a lot of people falling into this trap, whether it was to skip class or drink or do other ridiculous things that only messed them up in their studies. Be smart about your actions, and know the consequences of what you do before you do them. I’m not saying don’t have fun–you do you–but remember where you want to go in life and how your choices will affect you in the long run.

Self-care tips

It’s important to have things going for you outside of school to de-stress, but don’t let them distract you from your studies too much.

Hobbies, a part-time job, even dating are all healthy habits at our age, but you need to make sure you don’t get lost in the moment and fall off track from your goals. Set boundaries for yourself. You may have to miss out one get together with friends or your partner, or maybe even take 2 shifts a week instead of 4, but if it means you can complete all your schoolwork while still enjoying these things it is definitely worth it.

If you find yourself struggling to get by or are in a bad place mentally, talk to someone.

I faced this problem a lot this year. I am so thankful that I had my mother and best friend as my support system. Find someone you can confide in, or even try journaling your thoughts. It will make you feel so much better to get your feelings off your chest, even if it’s just on a piece of paper. Keeping these thoughts internal really can mess you up not only in school but in life as it makes you forgot who you are.

Use your time wisely.

If you have a spare/study period, take that blessed hour and a bit to manage your priorities. Maybe you need to study for a test or could use the time to work on that essay for Philosophy class. Maybe you’re just so overwhelmed that you could really use a walk–do that. Take a walk and surround yourself with nature. It’s your time to use and it gives you a little taste of what university will be like with the huge gaps between classes. Do what needs to be done, just don’t waste the time in ways you’ll regret later on. 

Tips for the dreaded “What am I doing after high school?” questions

Thoroughly research your post-secondary options.

This will be another post entirely soon, but for now, figure out what your interests are and what you could see yourself pursuing in five or ten years. Find out if you need further schooling to pursue these interests, and if so where you can get such schooling. Make phone calls or send in emails to universities when you have questions; attend special events hosted on campus to learn more. This is your future, so you want to make sure you aren’t throwing yourself off a cliff without a parachute or mat waiting at the bottom (nice analogy, eh?).

It’s not all about the marks.

I’m serious. Yes, you need certain marks to get into university and to receive some scholarships, but don’t work yourself into your grave if you absolutely don’t need to. If your program requires you to have an 80% average to be admitted, do you really need a 95% average when you just don’t understand your chemistry lessons or are failing calculus? The answer: absolutely not. I struggled with this myself immensely the past few years.

I let my marks dictate how I felt about myself, which is a very unhealthy habit. I was basically competing against myself, never finding my work good enough even when I knew I couldn’t do any better. I was so focused on getting that 95% average that I shut myself out from life and friends and ended up in a really dark place. And you know what it was all for? A scholarship. Did I reach the 95% this year? No. But I was unbelievably close, which made it even more disheartening that I didn’t get it.

Did the world end? Nope. Did I move on? Eventually, yes. And you know what? I still got scholarships, some not even for my marks. In fact, I was selected by the Dean of Environment for a scholarship from Waterloo that only a select few in my faculty win. I got it because of my extracurriculars, not because of my marks (well, only partly because of marks). Like I said, it is not. always. about. marks. Go to school to LEARN. To UNDERSTAND. Not to memorize facts and equations. 

I hope you found some of my tips helpful, and you now know how to survive grade 12. They really did get me through grade 12. If you liked this post, please let me know in the comments. If you want more like this, also let me know! I’d love to hear any tips or tricks you had to get you through grade 12, too 🙂

Until next time.