Your Leaving Cert Result Does NOT Impact Your Worth
No exam has the power to affect your worth. You are so so much more than your Leaving Cert result. Please get rid of any thoughts of ‘I’ve failed’ or ‘I’m so behind’. You’re on your own path in life. There’s no set of instructions to follow, just memories to make.
Allow Yourself to Grieve
After all that preparation, stress, time and effort, it can feel crushing to be disappointed by the final result. Let yourself feel whatever emotions come up. Be it anger, regret, sadness, disbelief, let the pain pass.
The Future is Bright!
Don’t Worry About Something that Might Not Happen
Things change every year. New course places come up, people might have done worse in the leaving cert in general, course requirements change, demand for each course fluctuates. So you never really know how many points you need for your dream course until offers are sent out.
Don’t forget you can appeal your Leaving Cert results! Click here for more information on Leaving Cert appeals for 2024.
Repeating the Leaving Cert
Ok let’s think about the worst case scenario here – you don’t go to college this time round. I know the thought brings you to tears but this could actually be a blessing in disguise. This coming year could bring wonderful experiences and people into your life. Your Leaving Cert points might close one door (for now) but they also open so many others! Here are some opportunities that may arise from not getting the points you wanted…
Learn Something New
Even if you don’t get your top choice you might be offered a place in another great course/PLC (post leaving certificate programme). You never know what friends & knowledge you might gain that you would’ve completely missed out on had you gone into another course. What’s more, this course might end up being the perfect fit for you!
Take a Gap Year
So many people would love to be in a position to take a gap year instead of trundling on to college for more hours of study. It’s great to have time to get a job, focus on yourself and your hobbies, volunteer, maybe travel a bit if your budget allows (or you could work abroad to get the best of both worlds).
Earn Money
College is expensive – not just the fees but the lifestyle in general – food, transport, nights out, trips, coffee. If you get a job while repeating the Leaving Cert you can save up. So, while others are faffing around trying to work three jobs on top of their studies, you’ll have one less thing to stress about when you get to college.
Meet New People
No matter which path in life you take you’re going to meet amazing people. You never know who your Leaving Cert results will bring into your life!
Take a Break
The Leaving Cert is such an exhausting time and college can be really hard core. What’s the rush to go from intense study to even more intense study? Let yourself recover from the last two years of hard work. This is your time to relax and focus on other aspects of your life that are important to you, like friends, family, hobbies, nature, fun etc.
You Are Not Alone
So so so many people are in the same boat as you. The Leaving Cert is a tough exam and loads of people end up having to repeat it.
As someone who went directly from Leaving Cert to college I can honestly admit that I often envy people who had a gap between the two. People who repeated the Leaving Cert seem more ready for college, more mature and sure of themselves because they’ve had time to figure out who they are outside of studies. Being a bit older starting college isn’t a bad thing – it gives you the maturity and self-assurance you need to really enjoy college (and no one will judge you for it).
Summary
- Your Leaving Cert results say nothing about your value as a person
- You are not alone – lots of people don’t get the Leaving Cert points they’d hoped for
- Not getting what you want actually opens up so many great opportunities (gap years, earning money, making friends, finding a course that suits you better)
Now enjoy the rest of your summer! You deserve to!
Click here for my advice on what courses to put down after medicine.
Click here for how I got 100th percentile in the HPAT and how you can too
If you’re feeling a bit lost with what to do with your time after the Leaving Cert, check out some inspiring vision board kits here! disclosure – as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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