Exam Diary:It's hard to be a lover of maths and a Leaving Certificate student. The exams have no respect for free-thinking mathematicians.
Maths was boring, and by that I do not mean that it was easy. There was so much emphasis on rules and formulae and so little on creative thinking that I found it hard not to drift away. In the end I hardly got finished on time. I expected better of myself. I think I got my A, but an A1 is another matter.
One bright spot on the horizon was the complex number question. The complex number is a beautiful thing and today it didn't disappoint.
Paper one is supposed to be my favourite paper. Now I have decided that paper two is my favourite (I have no choice).
The Polish exam, however, was a different story. I really got it all off my chest. It's been 18 months since I have written a word in my native tongue and it was a very liberating feeling. Would you believe, I was allowed to give my opinion on my favourite topic of the moment - the education system?
The paper opened with a comprehension on the subject of the school of the future. According to the writer such a school would teach students how to research, read selectively, think for themselves and develop their minds. I've got plenty of ideas about that.
My school of the future would do all that and more - I would have work experience, foreign travel and transition year. We don't have that in Poland. It's such a great idea.
I think a general knowledge of what's going on the world would benefit many students too, especially in Ireland.
You wouldn't believe how many people have asked me where Poland is, and are surprised to hear that it's in Europe!
I got so excited writing about my school of the future that I went 100 words over and had to start again. Every Polish word I had been bottling up for months came flowing out of me.
The essay question was equally inspiring. "The best education takes place outside school." I couldn't believe it! Another hot topic.
I was writing right up to the end. I was really in the mood for an argument about education.
I hope my fellow students got the same opportunity to let off some steam in Irish.
The other essay topic was also enticing. "Indifference is worse than hate." I don't think I will ever be accused of indifference.
