School holidays: Smart ways to leverage your matric mid-year break

With the schools being on holiday from today, Friday, 14 June, an education expert encouraged Matrics to use the mid-year break to strategise about their approach to the months leading up to the final exams.

“This is a great time for rest and recuperation, but also an opportunity to enter the last stretch of the last year of school stronger, more positive and empowered to perform optimally during the final exams,” said Dr Gillian Mooney, an education expert.

“It’s important to take a breather after the stress of the exams, but demands are high this year, and the holidays provide the perfect opportunity to tackle one or two areas of your life which will enable you to show more for your break than just good memories and an impressive knowledge of the latest developments in your favourite TV series.”

She said, noting that competition for coveted higher education space and limited work opportunities are fiercer than ever before, that Matrics should leverage the one irreplaceable resource they now have to their advantage – time.

“Commit to using 10 to 15 per cent of your time these next few weeks to do one thing that is going to propel you towards the end of the year from a position of strength and determination” she said.

Gillian advised Grades 12s to consider the following options, and then select one or two areas on which to focus in coming weeks:

• Develop a strategy

Now is the time to get your head and environment primed for the challenging few months that lie ahead, said Gillian.

“Reflect on your mid-term exam experience and strategise about your approach for the months leading up to the final exams.”

Gillian said when considering the plan for coming months, it is helpful to look at process goals, not only outcome goals.

• Get ahead with your academic work

A really cool hack for entering your last few months of school in prime position is to start reading up on the new work you will be covering in the final two terms.

“By doing this, you will already be familiar with the new work when it gets presented next term, so you’ll effectively be starting your revision earlier, which leaves you with more time to consolidate all you have learnt, well ahead of being tested on it at the end of the year,” said Gillian.

Another way to get to grips with academics is by researching and finding one new study method that you haven’t tried before.

• Get higher education applications out of the way

If you know what you want to do, investigate institutions offering your qualification and apply to as many as possible as soon as possible, Gillian advised.

Of utmost importance is that you ask lots of questions, particularly about the level of real-life work experience you can expect to be integrated into the curriculum, said Gillian.

• Get work experience

Job-shadowing, interning or volunteering for a few days will give you valuable insight into the career you would like to pursue as well as exposure to the realities of the working world, said Gillian.

• Get fit

If nothing else, use the next few weeks to get your physical house in order. Start walking or running, or find workout videos on YouTube that will let you get fit without expensive equipment or gym memberships.

“Exercise will help you gain the physical and mental stamina which will see you through some of the most challenging few months of your life to date,” said Gillian.

“As a Grade 12 learner, you are on the cusp of entering one of the most stressful periods in your school career, so take the opportunity to use the relative calm you have available in the coming weeks of holiday to your full advantage. Taking a little bit of time now to objectively evaluate where you are, how your studies are going, and where you possibly need to make changes to keep the momentum going will pay off handsomely. Equally, if you have things sorted on that front, take the time to stretch your vision of your future, and remove any administrative tasks which will slow you down in the final stretch.”