Calypso - My name is Calypso, I'm 23 years old, and I finished school in 2011. 
Maria - My name is Maria Lowrey, I have a daughter Calypso, who you've met, who is 23. I have a son Tane, who is 21. 
Calypso - In year 12, it started to become more because you know you had a lot more on your plate, and it was higher stakes, and so that's when I got probably more anxiety. It became really full-on around the time of trials, which is, arguably, the hardest part of the HSC, getting through your trials. I had one day where I had chemistry and ancient history on the same day, which are two really full-on, really hard subjects. I had a panic attack that morning, and I'd never had anything like that. 
Maria - I remember the trial period being really awful, and having to talk to the school counsellor, because I think Calypso was hysterical. I just couldn't snap her out of it. I had to take her to the doctor one day, she didn't go to school. 
Calypso - That's probably when I realised that I can get really anxious and that I need to stop myself before I get there. 
Maria - I didn't get angry at her very often, I just tried to keep everything calm, I cooked her whatever food she liked, I had plenty of snacks. Food was really important to Calypso, still is. 
Calypso - For me, mum and dad just being there and being like, "Yeah, that's a good idea," 'cause if they were like, "That's a terrible idea," then that would weigh a lot on me 'cause I'm quite close to my parents. 
Maria - Calypso's expectations for the HSC, she wanted to do well. We never, ever spoke about a mark. All we spoke about was managing her expectations, because they were so high that an 80% would seem like a fail, which is completely unrealistic. Calypso, she did do well, so I wasn't worried about her marks. I knew she was always going to be fine. When her result came out, she was happy with it. She wasn't elated, but I think the general population would have been thrilled to have gotten that mark. 
Maria - We started talking about Calypso's life after school probably in about year 10 or 11. She always had career in mind and wanted to do a degree. 
Calypso - Business had always interested me, so I knew that that was always part of my plan to do a commerce degree. My dad was in business. Really weirdly, I've ended up doing be similar things to what he did. 
Maria - I just would say to other parents, just stand back, support your children, make sure there's plenty of food in the fridge, and make sure they get a good night's sleep.