The influence of the Leaving Cert has spilled over into the lives of all those around me. Aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbours all chorus: "How's the study going?" or "best of luck!"

My mother is as nervous as I am. Sometimes she's even worse then me - and that would be hard. I suppose it's because she has "bin dere, done dat, had the spots and did de Leaving". So her nerves spring from the memories she holds of graffitied desks - "Trisha luvs Tommie" (not the type of chemistry that will help us on the day) - and of plastic bucket-seats and the simultaneous tick, tick, tick of 100 watches.

My younger sister, who is hoping to enjoy the start of her summer holidays, is just not allowed. That is, unless she wishes to unleash the wrath of the human timebomb that installed itself in her sister during recent months. She is relishing three joyous facts: (a) she got a summer job before I did; (b) she doesn't have to wear a school uniform; and (c) I have no energy to even bother fighting with her.

I just growl instead, with the ferocity of a pack of disaffected terriers that retreat once they have laid claim to their territory.

My Dad knows better than to approach without a white flag - normally a cup of coffee and a biscuit work wonders. Caffeine and sugar, vital to sustain the concentration levels, or just to keep me awake, are high on my list of exam foods.

I am the first child in our family to sit the Leaving, so there is a sense of entering the unknown for everyone. In fact, there are some benefits of the Leaving Cert apart from the opportunity to further your education: so many people act nice and understanding and full of sympathy for you. (What they are smugly thinking is "I would not like to be you right now" and "I'm sick for ya" and possibly "of ya".)

Then there's the power trip, the way we hardworking students can dictate the dinner to suit our own palates - most of the time. I suppose it is a bit unfair to expect the family to eat barbequed bananas and vegetable skewers every night. However they are being very understanding by not drinking all my pineapple juice.

Aah, the sacrifices that have to be made in pursuit of exam success. I have not been able to do any of my favourite pastimes lately, such as sweeping, ironing, hovering and washing up, for fear I might damage my second most necessary commodities - the hands. Naturally, I just cannot wait until the exams are over for some "shake 'n' vac" to put the freshness back into my life. The vacuum and I will be like long-lost buddies.

Not a word of a lie now, mam!

Sarah Caraher is a Leaving Cert student at St Vincent's Secondary School, Dundalk, Co Louth.