Year 12 graduates! Why you’re well prepared for uni – and how to make a great start
If you graduated from Year 12 at the end of 2020, you may be looking back on your final year of school and asking: ‘What just happened?’
No one expected the year to pan out the way it did, and it’s understandable if you feel cheated out of all the usual Year 12 milestones – 18th birthdays, formals, driving lessons, group study sessions, in-person exams and graduation ceremonies.
While it’s natural to look back on 2020 with some negativity, we’re so excited to welcome you to Deakin, and hope you’re feeling ready for a whole new world of learning, experiences, challenges and connections.
The good news is that you’re already ahead of the game – your year of online learning has set you up for study success at Deakin in a range of ways:
- With classes (lectures) being delivered online in Trimester 1, you’re already well-versed in how to ace online study and cope with self-led learning.
- You’ll be familiar with many of the digital tools and platforms that your teachers will use.
- You’ve proven your resilience in coping with the immense challenges of 2020.
- You’ve embraced new ways of forming friendships and connecting with your classmates.
How new student Jesse plans to make a flying start at Deakin
We chatted to recent high-school graduate Jesse, who’s beginning a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science, about her goals for starting uni and how she’ll apply the lessons of 2020 to her Deakin journey.
‘I’m so proud of myself for completing Year 12, especially in the year that we had! I found it very hard to stay motivated to go to my classes and actually do the work.
‘I learnt how to set up a routine that replicated a school day, so I made sure I had breaks and was productive in the allocated class times. This included having set recess and lunch times, and calling friends so we could chat and socialise during our breaks in the same way we would at school.
‘I was hoping to go overseas to do Camp America. But I’m feeling pretty confident about uni, especially since online learning gave me a glimpse into personal management and individual learning.
‘I’m looking forward to making new friends during OWeek and also in some of my classes! I’m hoping DUSA and other social events will help me meet new friends in person.
‘I think on-campus activities will be very important to get a feel of what uni life is like. I would love to come on campus as much as I can, particularly to use the study areas as I can get too distracted at home sometimes!
‘I feel a little nervous, but mostly excited to get into it and have some fun!’
Ready to connect and have fun? Here’s how!
While your first experience of uni may be a little different than in a pre-COVID world, there’s heaps of ways for you to make friends, get to know your new environment and have an awesome time! Make sure you do the following:
- Download your Orientation Itinerary – your passport to a great start at Deakin shows all relevant online workshops, activities and events during OWeek and beyond. Your Orientation Itinerary will be available from 5pm on Wednesday 10 February in Deakin Genie.
- Remember to register for the online and on-campus OWeek sessions you want to attend. You’ll do this using your Deakin email once you’ve accessed your Orientation Itinerary.
- Join the Deakin University Student Association (DUSA) – run by students, for students, DUSA is dedicated to enriching your experience at Deakin, offering parties, sport, trips and tours, short courses, clubs and more!
- Follow Deakin Life on Facebook or Instagram. You can also join one of our Facebook groups to connect with other students, including Deakin’s 2021 new students and Deakin’s International Students.
- Visit our Get Started site for everything you need to know about commencing at Deakin or email [email protected] with any questions.
Congratulations on becoming a Deakin student – we can’t wait to see you both online and on-campus in 2021!
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