Lessons for the class of 2020 officially end this week, and oh boy - what a ride!
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Jack Williams and Elly Chapple are feeling all the emotions all at once - excited, scared, sad, elated.
"It's sort of exciting but nerve wracking at the same time," Jack laughed.
"We're going out into the big world."
Having to adapt to a new COVID created way of learning this year, now it's about adapting to the 'real world', Elly says.
"It's a bit surreal, it doesn't feel like this is it," she noted.
"The last 13 years of our life has been the same routine so it's a bit different.
"It will be a bit weird to adapt to but it's exciting at the same time."
So, what's it been like completing their last year of school during a pandemic?
"It's crazy," Jack simply stated, but noted it had also been enlightening, and the pair feel they've come away more prepared for whatever life throws at them.
"It made the whole year speed up a little bit I reckon. The whole time that we were at home to now, it filled in a gap I guess," Elly said.
One of the things many students have lamented is missing out on the chance to make the memories those in the years before them did.
"I feel like we've missed out a little bit. Fundraisers, a bit more collective stuff as a year group," Elly said.
"But we've still made some memories - it's obviously a lot different but we've made it work I guess."
Overall, Jack reckoned what didn't kill them certainly made them all stronger.
"It's probably made us stronger, the experience. Made us come closer together."
The friends and the relationships they made with their friends and teachers, just goes to show how such strong bonds can be formed in adversity.
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Plus, they say just think of the stories they'll be able to tell their kids and grandkids.
"I'll probably milk it up a bit because we were in a pandemic, in the pandemic of 2020," Jack laughed.
Thinking hard about advice they'd give the students below them for the HSC, Elly said make sure you get ahead early.
"Start studying now. Even if you're in year 7 just start studying today!"
Jack wished all his fellow classmates the best of luck in their exams.
