ON PRESSURE: "Sometimes it feels like the Leaving Cert is the end of the world and other times I could not care any less.
“Days to go and I only just managed to pick a book up. After a very sad attempt at studying, I slam it down and give up.
“Is anyone else having this same problem? I’ve applied for a further education course. I’m gonna use that to get into college. So really these exams mean nothing to me. There’s this horrible voice in the back of my head screaming ‘Either you do well or your life is oooover’. Not just a voice in my head but a full-on screaming voice with an orchestra behind it. Trying to study with that? Fat chance.”
boards.ie
“The pressure is depressing me a bit – although I always associate depression with being bored and dull and lethargic.
“This is more antsy and nervous and oppressed. I feel down, but not really lethargic. It’s more like the pressure is compressing me a bit. My trademark humour and flamboyancy have become dampened a bit, as I’m sure you can tell by the recent posts.”
Emerald on leaving-cert.net
“Towards the end of fifth year our English teacher gave us a handout of sample A2 and A1 Macbeth essays. Apparently these were actual essays written during the LC, under the same pressure and time constraints that we’ll all be under next week. I started using them as a study guide over the past few days and honestly they’re making me quite panicky. Unless these were learned off right before the exam they were clearly written by excellent students who could think on the spot and express their views articulately within the space of an hour. The more of these fantastic essays I read, the more hopeless I felt.
“I’m mentally clinging onto poetry and comparative as my life jackets, as at least I’ll have those essays learned beforehand. I’m hoping that if I write them down as fast as possible [hopefully I won’t have to plan too much as I can twist my prepared essays to fit the title], then I can spend a little more time on Macbeth.
Elizabeth on leaving-cert.net
“Another milestone has just been accomplished. I’ve graduated from secondary school – I am no longer a Leaving Cert student per se – although the Leaving Cert is truly upon me, breathing down my neck.
“It would be true to say that this year’s Leaving Cert year were the laziest in the school’s 32-year history, although I would tend to say laid back and relaxed more so than lazy! Although when it comes to the crunch we get things done, we seldom disappoint.
“The writing will be on the wall in August when we’re opening our results! Whatever the outcome, I’ll know that I’ve done my best. Even though I haven’t prepared as much as I’d liked, I have a feeling that I’ve a fair grasp on things.
“I react well under pressure, so I should be able to pull some half-decent results out of the bag in August.”
aarondonohoe.ie
