Feature
A tribute to the Class of 2020 Dimitri Livadaris & Liv Louis Year 12 Captains
Dearest 2020 Graduates, Since beginning at Carey, many of us have looked up to the Year 12s, anticipating the time when we would be able to experience the many traditions our final year of high school has to offer. However, once finally reaching our last year, we were exposed to an incredibly different and unprecedented version of what we had been expecting, reducing many of the experiences that we had awaited to nothing more than a memory of what should have been. The year commenced much like any other, and the novelty of Year 12 was hinted at by our participation in the infamous noodle race at the swimming carnival. But two weeks out from our formal we were hit with the tough news that it would be postponed due to COVID-19. At this stage, few of us had fully understood the impact of the virus and how it would continue to affect us in the coming months. Additionally, we were informed that the School would now move to an external and online format. For many of us, this was the hardest news to hear, as we use the physical and social interaction at school as a means to break up our studies and motivate us. We felt as though we had all of the rites of passage stripped from us and all that remained were the many study hours and homework required to receive an ATAR. Although online school was far from an ideal situation, slowly the year level adjusted to living with the new method of education. Later sleep-ins and constant access to the pantry were some of the benefits seen during this 4 | Torch
unprecedented period. However, there was an ongoing feeling of emptiness that lingered among the students; a feeling that could not be rectified by the faces of classmates during class video conferences. Furthermore, in conversations with the cohort on social media, it became evident that the year ahead would be even harder than initially anticipated and that many of us were feeling incredibly disconnected from the Carey community. During this period, it became necessary for the Year 12s to constantly shift our perspectives. The continuous announcements of disappointments forced us to readjust our views in order to avoid loss of motivation and effort in our studies. One element of our lives I believe we did not properly appreciate until returning to school in Term 2 was the significance of our friends and the support that they can provide for us.
‘We are ... a cohort with a new-found resilience and the ability to conquer any challenges in our unfolding lives. We have the strength and perseverance which has been acquired through the difficulties of this year – perhaps a blessing in disguise.’
