So this is it! It's amazing how things never work out as anticipated. The day of the results was such a climax, but no one really knew what was in store for them. As I met my friends around town last Wednesday morning most were happy - some had done what was expected, others had over achieved with truly brilliant results. But others were left shocked, thinking "that doesn't fit".
In those last cases the hard part is trying to remember the exact day and conditions of that exam, to try to find "reason in its rhyme" .
The important thing about the results is that they are all relative to the person, their previous efforts and their natural ability. Whether it was 550 or 280 points you got, if it sufficed to get you your first choice there is no quantifying the joy, relief and satisfaction.
However, your initial reaction and the individual results will definitely colour your mood, as I experienced myself. When I opened my little brown envelope I was pysched to accept whatever I got as what I deserved - and I just hoped and prayed that I get enough for a place in NUI Galway. That is what the Leaving Cert is about: it's a means to further your education, not a showpiece for the mantel or marks in a competition.
Thankfully I have 470 points, last year's cut-off for undenominated engineering in NUI Galway, and more than enough for my second and third choice engineering courses there, so I can safely say I am delighted and my dream is achieved. Unfortunately I had one very disappointing result: my seventh subject, which I never thought to be my weak subject, was English, and regardless of the B2 in maths and chemistry, I just am so disappointed and really uncertain and confused as to what went wrong. I do realise that a C in English is not a bad mark at all, but I was normally a steady B English student. This "black mark" is hanging heavy over my head, I spent the best part of the day trying to shake off the questions. Everybody else seemed to do so well in that subject - there were Bs and As all around. I just really need to find out what I messed up in.
At the time of the English exam I realised I was taking a risk in writing a short story, but I'd used it before and I had got an A grade in the original and it was a fairly unique story based on a bored estate agent who became a drag queen!
But sure, "is βit mac an soal", and life is always throwing the unexpected at you to keep things interesting. For now I am just reeling in the glory that I am finished, college is just around the corner and I'm heading west!
But the agonising hang-on until the offers has been excruciating. The wait is made worse by the thought that points for engineering might go up - I could lose out by just five points. Such stress so young cannot be healthy, and young people are indulging in drugs and binge-drinking to escape. However for now the game plan is: Party! - with some minerals and sweets and a video in, maybe a few CDs too.
