The school formal season is coming to an end with COVID-safe celebrations able to go ahead despite the threat of the virus circulating in the community.

Morghan Broadbent of Narrabundah College said it was hard to maintain motivation when the second lockdown hit during the key study period before the final exams.

"We really felt that the year above us was the unlucky one but it turns out that we were the most affected, unfortunately," Mr Broadbent said.

He followed the IB and Board of Senior Secondary Studies ATAR program simultaneously and was waiting to see if he would be accepted into a double degree in law and international security studies at the Australian National University.

"It's really important for me to have a goal, especially a longer-term goal like that to really work towards and I think those people that had those goals during lockdown were the most successful," he said.

He said he was surprised and humbled to receive the Long Tan award for youth leadership.

Mr Broadbent was part of the student governance group that put together the year 12 formal at the National Arboretum on Monday.

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They selected everything from the colours of the balloons to the menus and design of the tickets.

"It's been a really long process. So it's really good to finally see like the culmination at the end and get to see it all in person," he said.

"Having that formal just before the end is great for getting together one last time and kind of really celebrating the last two years we've had, despite all the difficulties."

Dickson College student Georgie Jaques wanted to celebrate her Indigenous heritage through her choice of formal dress.

Her friend and fellow Dickson College year 12 student Nettie Coleman designed and made her dress using a fabric with an Indigenous print.

"I wanted to look at finding an artist from the central desert, Western Australia, Northern Territory side of Australia because that's closer to where my people are," she said.

"So that was the closest I could get and I was happy with the design because it really looks amazing."

Miss Jaques felt supported by the other Indigenous students at the college and in her classes during the the past two years.

"I was doing some classes with the other 12 Indigenous students, and we all kind of connect a lot deeper than what normal classmates would just because of our cultural identity," she said.

Next year she hoped to go to university to study social work as well as playing high-level sport.

Miss Jaques has played Australian football for the past four years and was eligible to put her name down in the AFLW draft.

"I've always kind of felt the need to help people, especially in the community sector," she said.

She said the formal held at Australian Museum on Monday night was a great release after two years of hard work and a chance to make and capture great memories with her friends.

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