It may be a big decision, but it was worth it.
With Leaving Cert results and CAO offers to the forefront of students’ minds at the moment, we caught up with Her.ie reader Linda to talk about that fateful day, and why the decision to repeat her Leaving Cert was the best ever.
_________________________________
“Eight years ago, I thought my world had come to an end.
I was five points short for my dream course and as I stood in the school yard with excited screams and shouts around me, I couldn’t see how things could ever get better again.
It might sound dramatic, but truly, I just couldn’t see past that day.
Five points. Five measly points.
I hadn’t really thought my choices through properly.
Not that I was confident that I was going to get my first choice, but it was more that I hadn’t really a clue of what I wanted to do and so had thrown down any old thing just to fill the form.
I was 16, I was more interested in getting into nightclubs at the weekends than worrying about school and suddenly, there I was, looking at a second-choice course that I didn’t even understand the title of and grinning through tears at my friends’ delighted faces as they contemplated the exciting new chapter they were about to embark on.
A few days later, the offers came out and sure enough, I had missed my course.
The option to repeat my Leaving had never entered my head. I mean, I hated school – hated it.
The thoughts of condemning myself to another year inside those walls filled me with absolute dread. But when I looked at my other options, I didn’t really feel like I had a choice.
And so, I decided to mix things up a bit. I decided to repeat in a different school in the city so I could have a fresh start and meet new friends, new teachers.
Never a star in Maths, I had got enough in my first Leaving to have the option of dropping it second time round and suddenly, the world opened up to me.
That might sound ridiculous but if you’re not good at Maths, the hours you spend trying to complete the most basic of homework can prove endless.
With Maths out of my life, I was suddenly able to look at other subjects more.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t suddenly find a love for school just because of that, but after the first few weeks, when I had been watching my friends head off to college and start an exciting new life, I began to settle.
My new English teacher sparked a love affair with literature that I’ve never lost – in fact, I’m currently completing my PhD in that and hope to lecture in English in the years to come.
That year opened my mind up to new possibilities, new dreams, and a whole new world of friendships.
By my second Leaving Cert, I had just turned 17, still a baby in essence – but those 12 months had changed me completely.
I no longer wanted to be an architect, or a lawyer or a nurse, or indeed any of the other careers I had flirted with over the last five years.
My path was set. English was where I belonged. Reading was where I flourished and weaving my way through the words and wisdoms of authors past and present was where I thrived.
If I hadn’t repeated, it’s hard to imagine what path my life would have taken.
Instead, I took the extra year, discovered a love for English, got one year older and wiser and, as a side note, met the love of my life – and we’re still together.
But that was just the icing on the cake.
For me, I can say now that I’m happy. As hard as those first few weeks were back then, I have absolutely no regrets.”
