Whether it’s the Gold Coast, Lorne, Torquay, Victor Harbour, Dunsborogh, Rotnest Island, thousands of young people are out this week, for ‘schoolies’ celebrations…traditionally a time for high school leavers to kick back, and have a break by the beach - following the stress of their final year exams.
The week has come to be associated with fairly raucous public behaviour – thanks to TV reports every year showcasing some of the drunkenness, violence, and sexual exploits that take place.
Police are urging parents to take responsibility for their children’s partying, including not providing them with too much alcohol.
What I want to know is, do you let your child participate in schoolies week? If so, do you caution them? Do you provide them with alcohol?
Are there alternatives to schoolies week?
I’d love to hear from you if you’ve been on schoolies …did you enjoy the week? Maybe it was a few years ago now…do you have fond memories of it? Or was it something you wish you hadn’t taken part in?
Comments (2)
Hi Sheridan
I wanted to call in but i was driving at the time. I felt like God tugged on my heart for me to say something.. i may not know why, but i guess thats how it works sometimes, haha =)
well.. i finished school last year and went away to schoolies with a whole bunch of friends from school. for just a bit of background.. i strayed from God in year 11 to a point where i was about to give it all up, but by God's grace, He intervened with the love of some great friends of mine, and i renewed my faith at around the start of year 12. being in those teenage years of 17 - 18, i found myself still caught up with the party lifestlye and drinking alcohol. so, as we headed off for schoolies, i was a christian, but i wasn't really living it.. and so i did a few things which i wouldn't say i regret.. i don't know, i just feel the word regret means to not let go, and thus not forgiving ourselves even though Jesus died for ALL our sins.. but like, they are things that now, i know i shouldn't have done.
but yeh.. about half way through schoolies, it was like God kicked me in the butt about the way i was living. i grabbed one of my closest friends who has always kept praying and supporting me, and we talked about it. and in the end i felt God lead me to this.. when i made a promise to God that i wouldn't drink alcohol again because i wanted to have a passion that just burned for Him. This helped me just run from that temptation in my life. and wow!! i found a lot of things changed.. i've never been a person who was able to read the bible much, just because i've never been a big reader.. but all of a sudden i was reading God's word and didn't want to put it down!!
there is much more which i could go into from there, but maybe another time because its 12:20am and i have work tomorrow, haha..
but yeh, of all places.. God turned my life around on schoolies! =)
well, thanks for your time all that you do sheridan! you're a champion!
Praise God!!
Posted by Shaun | November 22, 2007 3:45 PM
Posted on November 22, 2007 15:45
Hey there,
I have never been to schoolies and due to different circumstances I won't be doing year 12 so I have no reason to go to schoolies. However my church has held their own version of schoolies which many of the year 12 students go to instead of the other schoolies. They spend about a week doing fun things that are still Christian and still awesome.
I don't know if there are many other churches who would offer such a thing but I'm sure there are several.
Jess
Posted by Jessica Erskine | November 19, 2007 9:13 PM
Posted on November 19, 2007 21:13