A Year 12 class of 2020 student creates memories despite COVID-19 restrictions

Goulburn Mulwaree High School Year 12 student Charli-Rose Ellis has turned her attention to photographic memories for her final year of school amid the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic challenges and restrictions.

Charli-Rose said that throughout their school years the 2020 Year 12 graduating students at her school had looked forward to participating in activities such as the swimming carnival and the amazing race at the end of the year.

But sadly these events have been cancelled due to the pandemic restrictions.

She said that most of her year was "deeply upset and frustrated" by the situation.

"It's sad to say, but other than that [taking lots of photos] there really isn't a lot that we have been able to embrace," she said.

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"One thing though, that our senior leaders have done, is to allow our senior year to still participate is 'Fun Fridays'.

"This occurs every second Friday and will have themes such as 'double denim' where Year 12 students can choose to wear denim on top of their school uniform.

"Our teachers are also working overtime to try to create fun things for our year to do."

Charli-Rose said that she would miss the opportunity to have spent more quality time with her friends and teachers in 2020.

"For nine weeks of online learning we lost the experience of socialising with not just our peers but also our teachers," she said.

"After I completely finish I will miss that I did not have the same amount of time as previous years to socialise, but I have tried to make up for it by doing a 'photo a day'.

"This is so one day I can look back on the experiences and friendships I had when other aspects [of the final year at school] weren't allowed."

Meanwhile, Charli-Rose has her sights still firmly focused on the future.

"My future plans are to get accepted into University Of Wollongong (UOW) and into my course preference of a Bachelor of Commerce in either marketing or management," she said.

"I also want to be able to travel throughout my time at university or after I complete my studies, but due to the current pandemic it may be longer than that.

"I have accepted that due to my experiences this year."

Charli-Rose said that most of the Year 12 students of 2020 would have heard a similar message from parents, teachers and the media - "we are all in the same boat across NSW, in regards to our final HSC mark and ATAR."

However, she has another message for her peers.

"We need to enjoy our last six to seven weeks of our high school experience before the exams in as many ways as we can," she said.

Do you have a Year 12 class of 2020 story or photos to share? We would love to help you make this time memorable. Please send details to jackie.meyers@austcommunitymedia.com.au

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