Thanks to members above who have written wonderful words - some of you have expressed yourselves in a particularly mature and eloquent manner, and I applaud you
We all have the right to express ourselves freely over the internet, including here. Differences of opinion are only to be expected, and particularly in times when we're not feeling all that crash-hot, our statements over the internet don't always truly reflect how we feel.
I wasn't in a particularly good mood when I wrote my last post (kami can attest to that) and so I do apologise in part for being less constructive as I would have preferred. I also apologise for the use of the word "objective" as I meant "subjective, and have edited my previous comment.
In regards to marks - so much of the HSC is about knowing how to work the system. When you actually finish the HSC and go to Uni, you'll realise that you were essentially trained to think in a specific way for a big fat exam that really has no influence over the rest of your life. The earlier current HSC students grasp exactly what the Board wants them to think/do, and demonstrate it well (in a way that appeals to the Board), the higher likelihood that they will do well in the HSC. I'm sure there are more than a few places here on BOS where past HSC students (including myself) have ranted on about how ridiculous the HSC is at times (so much is based on rote-learning and regurgitation) - sadly, it's not perfect, but what is? Work with the system for now, graduate from high school, and finally let yourself loose in University.
Knowing how to appeal to the teachers and the board is a big part of the HSC. Coming from a performing arts background - it's only a minority of the time where good work (regardless of whether it appeals to the adjudicator or not) is recognised and rewarded as such. This - like the HSC - is so much about giving them what they want. You must must must recognise the system as such if you want to do particularly well, especially in a subjective subject like english where there's really no definitive right or wrong.
Going back to what I said above, words typed over the internet are not always interpreted the way they were intended to. I'm a pretty emotional person - I'll admit that freely, and my instant reaction to your first statement - which was "Don't you loathe people who can bullshit their way through a proposal and a viva voce? Such is one person in my class whose the only one whose managed to get anywhere near 100% for both, despite the fact that her m.work is shit-shit-shit." wasn't particularly passive.
What we actually write and how it's written can often contradict one another. Your ending line, you claim, is the focus of your "question", but the content and form of the post itself screams out otherwise, and it is that which I am responding to. Remember: We are all entitled to our own opinion. Whether my response is the "correct answer" to your question or not is entirely irrelevant - I'm not here to tell you what you want to hear, I'm here to tell you what I think.
And finally: How one performs in previous/other assessments has no standing on how they might perform in an EE2 Viva Voce. I'm one of the least consistent people I know, with huge discrepancies between my "high average" and "low average" marks. Sometimes things can just click, you know? It's not always waffle - sometimes it's just meant to be and I don't feel you should begrudge someone else for doing well. There will ALWAYS be someone better than you - someone who doesn't have to work as hard to get the same result (or better), someone who's major work is more appreciated than yours, someone who scores better, or is more popular, more pretty, taller, faster, bigger shoe size - whatever.
The longer you spend beating yourself up about not being the best, or worrying about things pulling you down, the bigger chance that you loose sight of the greater picture. Work more on strengthening yourself as a whole and you will do well, no matter what.
You're an intelligent person, Gavrillo, both you and I know that. I only hope that you put all your energy into doing the best for yourself that you can - negative energy can only bring about negative circumstances. Most people only have - or can afford - one shot at the HSC. Don't waste it.