There have been lots of special moments this week, as Miss Almost-17 graduates from high school.
The build up has been incredible – the formal in particular was THE topic of conversation for months beforehand!
Lately, I’ve noticed the interest and questions from family, friends and strangers alike, have turned to the topic of Schoolies Week.
Schoolies Week Expectations
I find it hugely disappointing that our society accepts, nay EXPECTS, our young people to participate in what seems to be little more than a drunken orgy.
We have been fortunate – neither of our kids was particularly interested in attending, and we certainly didn’t encourage it. Whether they were put off by the stories of violence and drunken escapades, or by the fact that it costs a lot of money, is uncertain – we’re just jolly glad it wasn’t a priority for either of them!
I am certainly not against kids celebrating the end of school – and their newfound freedom – with friends. But is Schoolies Week the best option we can come up with?
Our daughter turns 17 next week, so the story she has been giving people is that she wants to be at home for her birthday; yet even so, she gets some very strange looks! I’m so proud of her for not only being mature enough to NOT want to ruin her life at Schoolies Week, but that she has also come up with a great reason to put people off.
The fact that Miss Almost-17 is one of the youngest in her graduating class certainly plays a big part in our reluctance for her to participate. (Parents of young children, remember this: You may think your younger child is ready for school but hold them back if you can. The time when it REALLY matters is in high school, when they are with peers that are older – and the extra challenges that will bring).
But even if she was 18, I still don’t like the whole Schoolies concept.
Are you Anti-Schoolies Week?
Believe it or not, Schoolies Week was around when I graduated 30 years ago, though it certainly hadn’t gained the notoriety that it has today.
And guess what? I didn’t go either, and it didn’t scar me for life that I missed out – as some folk seem to think!
I know that being Anti-Schoolies Week will seem odd and anachronistic to some.
I’m also very aware that if either of our kids had really wanted to go, there probably isn’t a great deal that we could have done about it (Although we would certainly never have paid for it! I can’t help wondering how many kids would actually go if their parents weren’t paying for it? If school-leavers want to be so mature and celebrate their transition to adulthood, then here’s a thought, let THEM pay for it!)
So I am extremely thankful that our two both chose to stay away!
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