This year has proved far from conventional but like death and taxes, the HSC remains. Students are feeling the crunch and talked about the experience of studying for the HSC under the umbrella of COVID-19.

School Captains from Marian Catholic College spoke about their experiences.

Brooke Aloisi explained her experience trying to find the bright side.

"This whole situation has been one of the biggest challenges regarding getting motivated and studying without that connection and social interaction ... COVID-19 definitely impacted my mental health."

She explained that while she struggled to get started earlier in the year, she had come around and was finding her groove again.

"It was a bit of a struggle at the start, it's giving us a perspective that it's happening amongst everyone ... It's not necessarily better but I've sat back and just accepted it, so I just changed my mindset," Miss Aloisi explained.

"It is what it is, we just have to think of the positives."

Amanda Harrison had not found it so easy, but an early entry offer to her first pick of uni had eased some of the pressure.

"For me personally, it's been really hard to stay consistent through not having classes and then it being postponed ... It feels like there's a lack of motivation now" she said.

"I used to be a really motivated student but once it came to online school, I felt like I was in the wrong environment for me."

She added that her teachers had been really helpful during the stressful year.

"I adjusted to it a little bit, we had really good support... We've gained a greater appreciation for our teachers," Miss Harrison explained. She added that she's since adjusted a little and had found a balance of her home life, school life and wellbeing.

"I guess as students, we need to prioritise our wellbeing."

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Imreet Singh, another Captain, said that it had reinforced the school's resilience.

"Everything got really bad when we went into lockdown, we had no light at the end of the tunnel," Mr Singh said.

"If anything this experience has been a testament to how resilient our cohort has been, there has been no other year like us where trial exams, HSC exams and the last few weeks of school have all been disrupted."

While the year has been far from easy, students in Griffith across the Riverina can take comfort that in a few short weeks, they can finally breathe easy and start looking to the future.

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