Let’s get Gritty

Jul 31, 2017

Ever wondered how Elon Musk started building rocket ships or how 16 year old Laura Dekker sailed her way around the world in 518 days solo? How Michael Jordan become one of the World’s best basketball players or how Sara Blakely become the youngest female billionaire in the world with her Spanx business?

Were these individuals born smarter, stronger, more motivated?

I don’t think so!

If you haven’t heard about Grit then please do yourself a favour and get yourself a copy of Angela Duckworth’s incredibly insightful book called.. you guessed it.. Grit! Don’t have time to read you say? Angela also delivered a great 6 minute TED Talk which is well worth watching.

Grit argues that it is not about how smart you are, but rather how resilience, initiative, and having guts gives you a distinct advantage over others. At HSC CoWorks we are such believers of this that it is one of our Key Behaviours. We work with our students to develop their Grit and apply this skill to the HSC and ultimately life after. Not everyone is born with Grit, but everyone can develop it.

 

 

 

So is that student who is doing well at school that much smarter than you? Or is it that they have done that many more practice essays, pushed their comfort zone to improve results, asked the questions and stayed curious about what it is they are learning, and ultimately stayed ‘gritty’ and persevered to the end?

 

“Let’s Talk About the HSC”

The ultimate podcast for students and parents navigating the journey of the HSC. Presented by HSC CoWorks, each episode dives into the challenges and triumphs of the HSC experience, offering expert advice, study tips, and insights into achieving academic success.

Whether you’re preparing for exams, managing stress, or looking for ways to stay motivated, this podcast is your go-to guide for all things HSC. Join us as we chat with educators, students, and professionals to help you thrive during this important academic milestone!

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We asked our coaches for their #1 tip to Year 12 students going into Term 2 (term 3 of your HSC year). Here’s what they said 👇
Zara (English): Stop memorising essays.
Alex (Maths): Do past papers with no notes first.
Jack (Economics): Teach a topic. Stumbling = your next study target.
Ella (All Rounder): Know your syllabus inside out.
Which tip will you implement first?
#HSCCoWorks #Term2 #StudyTips #HSCCoaching Year12
Your HSC mountain won’t climb itself 🏔️ 
Daily plan ✅ 
Daily mindmap ✅ 
Daily submission ✅ 
Ask a Coach ✅
Tick them all off and keep that streak alive. 625 days is the record. What’s yours? 🔥
3 mistakes most HSC students make in Term 2…
And yes, you’re probably doing at least one of them.
1. Spending most of your time on subjects you’re already good at. Feels great. Does nothing for improving your end results. Your weakest subject has the most room to move and that’s where the immediate gains are.
2. Saving past papers for the week before trials. Past papers aren’t revision. They’re practice that identify strengths and weaknesses. Do them early enough that you can actually act on what they tell you.
3. Studying more hours but without intention. Re-reading notes. Highlighting. Rewriting summaries for the 4th time. Your brain is comfortable but it is not pushing you into the next level. Active recall and practice questions are uncomfortable for a reason. Get them done every day, not just in the lead up to the assessment. 
Term 2 is where the biggest progress can be made. Small adjustments now = big results in October.
#hsccoworks #hscstudytips #hscmotivation #hsc2026
After working with hundreds of HSC students, we can tell you that the highest achievers are simply following a formula. A simple formula which anyone can follow... 
They’re not necessarily studying 10 hours a day or sacrificing their entire social lives. What sets them apart is a mix of habits, mindsets, and strategies that most students either don’t know about or know about but don’t consistently apply. Here’s what we’ve observed and how you can apply it.
Motivation fades.
Habits don’t.
The students who perform at their best are the ones who train daily, stick to their systems, and keep showing up, especially on the hard days.
P.S. No suffering actually required… just discipline and direction 💪