The dominating emotion I felt as I watched the class of 2021 graduate was a mixture of empathy and pity. As a teacher, and someone who has graduated from high school, I understand how important the rites of passage and rituals are to learning. A program without sport, camps or the chance for students to socialise is more akin to a prison than a school.

So today, I interview the graduating captain of Chatswood High School, Tim. Interestingly, he was one of the first students that I taught, and even more bizarre, I encouraged and expected him to get the position of captain three years before it happened.
We touch on a lot of topics, from how COVID impacted their learning, how stressful it was to study for the HSC from home, missed opportunities as a captain and the hidden restrictions that come with such a position.
Overall, if you want a glimpse into the hidden mechanics of high school, have a listen.