Let's Make Transitions a Little Less Daunting

Gihan Hassan

The liberating yet daunting feeling of starting a new chapter in our lives is a feeling that we might never get used to. Whether it's starting a new job or transitioning from high school to a corresponding pathway, you will always be left stressed and overwhelmed. 

The last leg of VCE was one of the most tiring moments of my life thus far. Throughout year 12, I remained determined on achieving the goals I set out for myself. I lived my life SAC to SAC, test after test, working towards executing the many expectations I placed on myself. Stress and anxiety were taking a toll on my performance and led to many breakdowns throughout the year. 

It was two months before the exams when I decided to sit down with myself and deal with my stress. Stress could either have a positive or negative impact on us depending on the way we react to it and because I chose to fight it, I was burning out quicker and losing motivation. 

Use stress as a motivator. Allow it to push you to strengthen relationships with facilitators and teachers, to ask more questions and seek help. No one can prepare you for what you might face in VCE, at university or a new job. While the confusion, anxiety, stress, and uncertainty are inescapable, it's the way we choose to react to these emotions that either set us up for failure or success. 

Remember that if you stress too much about something before it happens, you're putting yourself through it twice. Focus on succeeding on your own terms and embrace stress in an optimistic light, because there isn't a set guideline put into practice for how to make these transitions easier. These phases aren’t constant and only ever last as long as we allow it to.

Art by Sanaa Yusuf as part of Art For Yemen Auction