16 September 2020
Schoolies as a ‘Rite of Passage’
Posted in Church Ministries / Family Space / Parents & Carers / SU QLD / SU-Schoolies / Teens and Young Adults
In November 2000 I graduated from high school.
At my school’s graduation, every year they played the same music. It symbolised the end of your time at school as you moved into adult life.
For me, that experience was a big moment I’ll always remember. A point of transition – a rite of passage.
Fast forward 20 years and our 2020 high school graduates are facing a very different rite of passage.
COVID-19 has limited numbers for events and gatherings, and is already influencing end-of-school processions with bans now in place for the traditional mass schoolies events on the Gold Coast.
While some think that Gold Coast schoolies events are a horrible ‘rite of passage’ for our high school graduates, the fact is that schoolies options available to previous cohorts have been taken away from the class of 2020. What will this mean?
Rites of passage have changed through the generations – but all support the same general premise: an event or ceremony to mark an important transition in someone’s life.
For Gen X and Gen Y some rites of passage included owning a first car, leaving home and getting your first job. For Gen Z and Millenials, who are staying home longer and studying/working simultaneously, there are fewer points that we can label as ‘rites of passage’.
This makes the milestone of finishing school an even more important marker for this generation.
If you’re a parent or mentor of someone finishing high school this year, here are some things I think are really important to keep in mind.
1. Talk talk talk!
Talk about the year – and ask them what are some of the symbolic markers they feel they have missed out on because of COVID-19. What are some creative ways they can experience these?
2. Help them to share their feelings
It’s okay to be disappointed – but allowing feelings to stay bottled up can have really negative consequences. Encouraging your teen to share what they are going through is vital to help them have a positive experience as they approach this key transition in life.
3. Celebrate with them!
Celebrate the successes of this year, and of the last few months of their schooling journey. Focus on the ‘lasts’ – celebrate when they finish their final assignment, final exam, etc. Help them plan a safe schoolies celebration with the friends they have valued through their schooling journey.
Regardless of the changes COVID-19 has had on our society, helping our Year 12 students to find positivity in the midst of all the things they have missed out on is key. Let’s give them the joy-filled rite of passage they deserve!
The good news for SU-Schoolies Sunny Coast is we have a COVID Safe Plan for our event, which we’ve developed in conjunction with Alex Park Conference Centre. This will allow us to proceed under the appropriate Industry Action Plan.
While this plan includes a cap on participants and restrictions on some activities, rest assured we are putting together a program that will allow you to still have the time of your life as you celebrate finishing your 12 years of schooling with your peers.
About the author…
Beavs is a former High School Maths and Christian Education Teacher who has been working and volunteering with SU QLD Camps for almost 20 years. As Camps Specialist he supports volunteers and chaplains run camps and community outreach events throughout Queensland, reaching over 4500 young people. Beavs is married with 3 children, and loves coffee and watching sport.
