Mik Pyro from Republic of Loose retook his Leaving Certificate to get the points needed for arts at UCD. He tells Louise Holden how it went
"When I got my leaving Cert results in 1995, it was the second time around for me. I won't even go into what happened in 1994. I didn't get close to what I needed for arts in UCD. I left Templeogue College with its sport and discipline and uniform and went to Stratford in Rathgar - an altogether more suitable environment for me. It was multidenominational and mixed and I was able to concentrate on my work and not on sport or keeping a regulation haircut. The testosterone levels at Stratford were normal and there was no streaming, so I actually got to study at levels that suited me.
"I went to collect my results with the heavy feeling that I had failed. I had put a lot of pressure on myself due to the disaster the year before and didn't have much confidence.
"I got 380 points which was more than enough for arts. I was delighted with myself. I had never really done well in an exam before in my life, and it was a great feeling to have As to celebrate for the first time ever.
"I got nearly twice as many points the second time around, more than enough to go and study philosophy and English at UCD.
"I got As in honours English and Business Studies. I was streamed into pass for those subjects the year before. The streaming system is hideous.
"My mother is a maths teacher so you'd think I'd do well in that subject but I just about got my D in pass. I got a D in honours geography which wasn't bad, considering I had only started the subject that year. My result in history - a C - was a bit disappointing too. Nonetheless, I had enough to get me where I wanted to go and it hadn't killed me either.
"I kept my music up all the way through and only really studied hard in the last few weeks.
"I celebrated with a meal out with the family and then probably went to Fibber Magees - or this horrible indie club on O'Connell Street.
"I was already hanging out with the drummer from the band at that stage but I hadn't met any of the other guys.
"I always knew I wanted to work in music so college was never a career move for me. I was interested in studying philosophy and I'm glad I did. It was tough and rigorous but fun. I was particularly taken with the modern French thinkers like Derrida and I'm glad I got the chance to study them. I loved English too and went on to do an MA in Renaissance Literature. That's because our drummer had broken his arm and we couldn't gig for a while, so the MA kept me busy.
"College was a big, cold, somewhat alienating place and I wasn't the greatest social mixer but I did enjoy being around all those people and I loved the library. Overall, it was a really good experience for me, even though I haven't used my qualifications for work.
"When I look back on the Leaving Certificate now, it doesn't mean a lot to me. However, I think it's a good system. It still values traditional academic subjects in their pure form. The subjects are diverse and really stretch the brain at a time when it's open to be stretched. During the Leaving Cert cycle you get to try out loads of subjects you wouldn't normally be exposed to. It's the renaissance idea of a rounded education and I think it's worthwhile. When you're young you have the mental energy to engage with all sorts of disciplines and ideas.
"Having said that, the exams themselves are too pressurised. The Leaving does not dictate your entire life, even though many students are led to believe that it does.
"Anyway, if you don't get what you want you can always repeat like I did. Lots of my mates did really badly in the Leaving and are now making cartloads of money. So my advice to anyone getting the results today is, who cares?"