Are you stressing about the Leaving Cert?

Contributor Gerard Flannagan offers words of advice

It honestly does not feel that long since I was getting ready to do what I thought was the most important thing in my life at the time, the Leaving Cert. My six long years in secondary school all came down to just two weeks of exams - TWO WEEKS! It is around this time every year students across Ireland are getting stressed and anxious about this ridiculous system where you may have every single thing poetically learned off after months of intense study sessions and after school grinds, only to go into the exam and just go blank from the weight of the pressure put on to you at such a young age.

I honestly believe 18 years old is far too young to be making what is deemed to be the decision that will shape your future. The natural maturity levels are just not present yet to make such an important decision in your life. After I completed my Leaving, I headed off the the University of Limerick thinking I was going doing my dream course, but realistically not knowing much about it. This can be partly blamed on the lack of regular career guidance in schools which is increasingly being deemed not as important, due to the simple fact of lack of funding by our fantastic government - an argument for another day.

I cannot stress enough to make sure you research your course choices thoroughly to be certain it IS for you. I didn’t, and I paid the price. I hated my course and getting up in the morning to what I felt was a load of s***. I hated walking in to the socially awkward vibe I got in the Computer Science building where I felt that the majority of people around me were more interested in talking to a computer than they were in holding a conversation with a real person.

As a result, I didn’t go in and repeatedly struggled with exams. I was at what I felt was a serious crossroads in my life, all at the tender age of 19. I couldn’t see myself finishing this course and during the summer, a couple of months before I was due to sit repeat exams, I made the decision to drop out. My parents completely supported my decision even after paying thousands to put me through this year, something I am very grateful for. But it begs the question - how many times have you heard stories about second, third and fourth years hating their course but not wanting to drop out just because of the financial implications? An all too common occurrence.

Luckily I had a job that could keep me entertained for the year so I could consider my options for what I wanted to achieve in life. I went through the infamous CAO again and picked a course, after hours of research, that I thought I would be interested in and most importantly, enjoy. I started studying Journalism in UL and I can honestly say I love it. The year out was the best thing I have ever done. I’m more focused but still having the time of my life. That extra year of maturity has helped me in ways I cannot describe and I honestly cannot recommend taking a year out enough, trust me it’s not that long. It also helps when you get put into a class with people who have similar interests and goals. It’s so much easier when you meet a group of people like I have whose company you enjoy being around.

I’m not a person who gets stressed at all, in fact I am extremely laid back when it comes to exams and college work. But even I couldn’t avoid the stress that came with all this. Looking back I can honestly say that as bad as it may seem at the time, it isn’t. If you feel you’re not ready for college, take a year out, repeat your leaving cert if you wish, you have your whole life ahead of you, do not get stressed or anxious over something as little as the Leaving Cert. If you feel you’re ready, then by all means go for it and enjoy it, because it wont last for ever. The Leaving Cert is not the most important thing in life and you will soon realise it.