In the summer of 2024, I was transitioning into Year 11 which marked the official and very scary start of my VCE journey. It was during this pivotal break that I was introduced to Happy Brain Education by a school coordinator. Honestly, getting the HBE scholarship was the best opportunity that really changed the trajectory of my VCE journey, turning what could have been a stressful time, into a journey where I felt supported and motivated. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had and I’d love to share some tips and tricks to really utilise the abundant resources and support the HBE scholarship gives you!
The Tutoring Aspect
When the school break was over and the content I was dreading started to roll in, I was quickly overwhelmed but the weekly tutoring sessions quickly transformed my mindset. Having those live interactive classes transformed my mindset and the way I studied.
The team curated the content directly from the VCE study design covering every dot and breaking down actual exam questions. It made such a huge difference because by the time I faced real assessments, the questions felt familiar rather than terrifying. Even after the live classes, the past recordings can be accessed on the LMS if you wanted to practice a specific concept.
On top of that, what really helped was the content videos on the LMS that covered all dot points of the study design as well as quizzes where you can self-reflect and check your understanding.
The two things that really helped me was whenever a big SAC was coming, instead of rereading notes, I would do the self-reflecting quizzes just to see where my weakness was at, then watch the content video for the concept I haven't yet grasped. This helped clear doubts before SACS.
Also, don’t be afraid to speak up in your weekly classes. Try not to leave the session with lingering doubts and ask all your questions to the tutor who are more than willing to break it down to you. If you find yourself having questions later on, you can also put it in the discord so other students can benefit as well!
The Mentorship Program
Back then, I didn’t have VCE all figured out nor what I wanted to do after graduation. Which is normal for most VCE students. That’s where the mentoring aspect of HBE comes into play. The mentorship program became absolutely invaluable to me. You are matched with a mentor specifically chosen for you, who has already completed VCE and knows exactly what you’re going through!
Meeting with my mentor monthly gave me a much needed safe space to ask the silly questions, clear my head and get the practical reassurance I needed from someone who had actually been in my shoes.
To utilise your time with your mentor, lean on their experience. Remember they went through the exact same VCE themselves. I asked my mentor heaps of questions about how they balanced school and life and effective ways to study.
Also be open. Your mentor is there to help and guide you, unload your doubts, the advice of a mentor can completely shift your perspective when you need it the most.
Wellbeing Sessions
If there is one thing VCE students underestimate it’s the mental marathon. It is just so easy to burn yourself out if you aren’t looking after yourself during these stressful times. The wellbeing sessions were one of my favourite parts of the scholarship. It can feel quite isolating during VCE, so getting to sit in a room with other students who understood the pressure was comforting and to have interesting educational sessions that taught us how to look after our mindsets and ourself were really helpful.
Make sure to apply what you have learnt in the sessions. When they taught us ways to avoid burnout, I actually tried them at home.
One of the tips that I still use is so simple but very effective; it’s to write down all thoughts and tasks you need to do on a blank paper. Just by simply doing that, my brain felt lighter not having to keep remembering them because it's recorded somewhere else. Tips and tricks like that can really help not just during VCE, but also throughout your education journey.
I’d also recommend getting to know fellow peers at the wellbeing sessions. Connect with others and have fun!
Lastly, I'd like you to remember this. Happy Brain Education gives you the perfect platform but you still have to take the leap. Fully immerse yourself with everything HBE has to offer. Attend the classes, reach out on the discord, show up to the wellbeing sessions and let your mentor guide you. Utilise everything because you can achieve so much more than you think!
The Takeaways
1. Attend the live classes
2. Watch the content videos
3. Do the Self reflection quizzes to pinpoint weaknesses
4. Ask tutor questions in class or in the discord (overall just ask!!)
5. Lean on your mentor’s experience and ask them all the questions
6. Apply the tips/tricks
7. Connect with the HBE community!
What's next
Keep an eye on our Instagrams (hbe.academy and happybraineducation) and our blog page for more!
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About the Author
Selma Hassan
Mentoring Officer