The HSC remains a major milestone in the lives of all young people and they owe it to themselves to do their best.

All Year 12 students should take the next month seriously and apply themselves to their studies.

Education experts say cramming at this stage will not achieve much but nor is now the time to give up in despair if you fear you have not done the work needed.

The next month might seem an eternity but it will be over in a flash and then all young students can get on with the rest of their lives.

And, increasingly, that life’s path will not be decided by a HSC result.

The days of leaving school, getting your first job and working there for the next 50 years are long gone.

Instead, today’s school leavers can expect to work dozens of jobs – and even several different careers – so their first job or university course is just the beginning, not the end.

Each year at this time we read the stories of countless luminaries who either did not finish Year 12 or did not shine in the HSC and still went on to carve out successful careers.

That’s not to say the HSC does not matter, but it does show that what happens after the exams is more important than what happens during the exams.

So best of luck to all our Year 12 students – and their families – as they negotiate the HSC zone.

Eat well, sleep well and keep up your studies but, most of all, do your best to enjoy it.

You won’t realise it yet, but school days truly are some of the best days of your life.