5 days until lockdown ends, 34 days until the HSC. Our cohort has spent nearly 6 months in lockdown (March 2020, Avalon, Bondi), the entirety of our senior years with restrictions and I haven't hung out with my full friend group since the end of Year 10.

5 days until lockdown ends, 34 days until the HSC.

Our cohort has spent nearly 6 months in lockdown (March 2020, Avalon, Bondi), the entirety of our senior years with restrictions and I haven't hung out with my full friend group since the end of Year 10. There was no year 11 camp, end of year trip, trial exam, muck up day or any event that signalled the final years of our high school life. We've gained an extra month of preparation that has been taken over by extra online and in-person 'Term 5 class time'.

This was all necessary for the wellbeing of everyone, and I wish it wasn't. I wish that everyone followed health orders and didn't feel like their DIY home renovation purchase from Bunnings was more important than everyone else. I wish that the first thing I saw on my feed every morning wasn't another video of Bondi Beach being packed without consequences during lockdown. And I can only hope that cases stabilise at 500 instead of skyrocketing the moment this minority of the population gain justification to party and break more rules.