By Sabrina Sweeney
Leaving Cert results day brings anticipation and trepidation for students everywhere.
It is a nerve-wracking time and for some it can be a traumatic experience; young people are under such an enormous amount of pressure and expected to make huge decisions at very emotional times.
From choices around third-level courses, preferred universities and their location, to thoughts around moving away from home and trusted friendships, there’s a lot going on in the minds of those who’ve just completed this stage in their education.
Many will be feeling pressure – self imposed and from others – to achieve a certain number of points to continue on their preferred career path, and it can feel as though everything in life depends on a particular result and all of the hard work and effort will be a waste if the desired outcome isn’t achieved.
While exam results are undoubtedly very important, they are not everything to everyone.
For some, successful Leaving Cert results will guarantee a pathway to something better.
But going to university certainly isn’t the only route to a successful career or a happy future.
At this time in these young people’s lives, in what’s considered a defining moment for some, and if not definitive then certainly a huge milestone, it is crucial to acknowledge the other various pathways available to students who want to achieve their educational and career goals.
Apprenticeships and vocational education are now very viable alternatives to university.
As career trajectories aren’t as regimented as they once were, many people have several careers across separate industries during their lifetime, reskilling or transferring their skills across jobs.
As the saying goes: “Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
I disagree that we are all geniuses but for me the point being made is that everyone is different and talent and intellect come in many shapes and sizes.
We don’t collectively fit into neat little boxes with the same affinities, aptitudes and proficiencies and to push everyone in the same direction is as much a waste – to the individual and to wider society – as it is fruitless.
Certainly, the Leaving Cert measures hard work and academic capability but anyone in the workplace will testify that it takes more than intellect to succeed.
Sadly, for a lot of employers, the young generation seeking work experience and jobs are not work ready, even those with the best Leaving Cert results and university degrees.
During interviews for positions, recruiters are looking for a vast range of qualities including but not limited to an individual’s history of part-time jobs or volunteer experience; their attitude and eagerness to learn; a sense of character, ability to use initiative and use of good communication skills including empathy, listening and speaking with confidence.
None of these skills or characteristics requires academic ability per se; but they do allow a young person to stand out from the crowd and that could be the difference between getting hired, or not.
So as we approach results day, amid all of the noise and inevitable comparisons with others, just remember that just because you don’t excel in your Leaving Cert doesn’t mean you’re a failure.
There are many other options so do your research and if possibly don’t make any hasty decisions.
Ideally, Friday will be a day of celebration regardless of results. It is the end of second-level education, of years of listening, learning and putting in effort, of showing up to classes, writing essays and getting coursework in on time. That’s a lot to be proud of.
But perhaps most significantly, Friday and the weeks ahead mark the beginning of a new and exciting stage of life for young people moving further out into the world, offering them a greater level of autonomy and another step towards independence.
If I remember it correctly, this is where the hard work and fun really begin.
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