Hi, so my name is Emma Lynch. I’m seventeen and yes, I’m in sixth year, a leaving certificate student. When I say I’m doing my leaving cert to people, it is usually met with a sympathetic “oh god really?” or an encouraging “hate that”. So basically people feel pretty sorry for me. I don’t feel sorry for myself, really. I mean I knew this was coming and I knew I had to do it, so here I am. Doing the Leaving Cert.

The Leaving Cert is not the worst thing in the world. It is just an exam that everyone has to do and I just gotta put my head down and study. Oh god, I sound like my mother. But how hard can it be just to learn off everything and then just scribble it down on paper? Clearly the stress hasn’t kicked in yet. I mean, it is only October so maybe you can use that as an excuse for my laid-back approach. Just check in with me again in six months time and we’ll see how laid-back I am.

But in all honestly, I want to do well in the Leaving Cert, I really would like to. Bbbbbbbuuuut I’m not the brightest bulb in the light shop. What I mean to say is basically there is no way I will be like that genius child down in Cork who got nine A1s. Maybe there is something in the water in Cork…or maybe there is just nothing to do in Cork except lock yourself in your room and study. No offense Corkies, I’ve never been to Cork so I don’t really know what its like there.

The subjects I’m doing for my LC are…. English, Irish, Maths, Spanish, Physics, History and Biology…..all at higher level. It hasn’t killed me yet but just give it a few weeks. I’ll let you know if I crack up from doing yet another circle question in maths or writing another essay on the wonderful…*cough, cough* King Lear.

The hardest thing I think I’ll find about this year is getting a balence between studying and my social life. I’m just hoping my social life won’t disappear and my Saturdays nights won’t be replaced with mountains of homework, a million and one cups of tea and stacks of toast. Well I’ll guess I’ll find out soon enough.

On a positive note, I know I’m not alone. All my worries, my fears, are pretty much the same worries and fears as my friends and the 60,000 or so other students sitting the LC next June. We’re all not alone and it’s nice to know we have somewhere to vent our frustrations while at the same time avoiding Biology homework:)

Hello allhonours users,

Ally (astatinee) here…ok so blogging? doesn’t sound too difficult…but I suppose with me being so busy studying this year I shouln’t even have time for this kind of thing..oh yess..I know I’m not alone people. You’re probably sitting there giving out to yourself, “why the hell didn’t I study like I said I would over summer! now I’m definitely screwed for chemistry!” either that or your taking it easy until Christmas. Just let me remind you the mocks are too close after that.

Its so weird..fifth year seemed to just fly by and now its all about the CAO, make sure you know your course codes, what’s your aptitude? Are you going to the debs? Start revising! Same old things the same teachers say.

For most of us we are hoping and praying to god that we get into the course we want because we don’t really have an alternative..but for those lucky few who are expecting 600 points I suppose I can only say congratulations. I didn’t do Transition year. My Parents were sticking to their idea that TY was pointless, I obviously revolted and am reluctant in saying they were right. So TY was apparently fun and you did tons of projects and went here and there but I mean, how many of you who did TY actually took the extra time to go over your weak subject……thought so.

I promised my self that I’d try to get all As in my Christmas and summer exams….I ended up getting 2As, Bs and a D. Then I made a time table to study over summer but of course, invitations to this and that..next thing you know its September already.Why is it that the goals we make we rarely ever stick to?

Well i got a wake up call over summer. Well…that’s what I call it. So I’m hoping to get into RCSI for medicine, lets pretend I’m an optimistic A standard student. I found out that a girl in my school got into RCSI and I felt,almost jealous. Then, my friend’s brother also got into the same college for the same course. I thought to my self what was I doing over summer that I never gave any time to the subjects I needed to improve on? I kept saying I’ll do it tomorrow etc etc…so now my parents (and Dr. Dad) are expecting me to get medicine and I have no idea what to do if I dont and I really do want to get into medicine myself because I love the whole science-biology-helping people aspect of it and its something I would love.

Points are really high, I’m doing pass maths, I hate chemistry (remember now, I’m an optimistic A standard student ) so I decided that I would start studying a few days ago. And I’m proud to say I’ve stuck to my plan, although today it was chemistry’s turn and I gave up on it after half an hour,but i’m getting there. Basically if I don’t feel like studying I remind my self that I NEED 500+ points so if I want what I want I NEED to make an effort. Quite honestly,thats all you need to get enough points. If you make the effort of learning the subjects you dont like and improving on them, if you have a goal (as in “I need such and such points”) and if you have faith in yourself that you CAN and WILL improve …then you will.

so thats my new plan of action…keeping my goal in mind.. sometimes its hard , with being friends with ‘the girl who got 11 As in her Junior Cert.’ who is sure of getting her favoured career choice.

Fact is even when you get into third level education you’ll have to work hard since its new material. Put in the effort now..I turned down an invitation to go see Dorian Gray (that new Film) and im hoping I wont regret this but..I said I wouldnt go the paramore concert in december either because I have a study session planned then. Im not going to completley isolate myself from the world. Just prioritise. It’s the last year of secondary school and the last year you’ll probably see your friends so take lots of photos and do enjoy it but have your limits.

So that was my attempt at life coaching, psychology is my second choice ha, ( I can see you shaking your head saying “this one’s mad, God help her anyways..”..yeah thanks).

Oh yes, to try and boost my points, my parents have enrolled me in a revision course in Dublin. Last weekend was my first day. I swear i checked the train time table and a train was going from Carlow to Dublin at 6.30am. 6.15am…train station is locked. So i end up driving to the place with my mother and taking the Luas and then a taxi to St. Steven’s Green. My god ive never been so cold in my life! But the actual place itself was good enough. I’d say I’ll improve on my Biology anyway.

Well its about 11.35pm and like i said, I was meant to be studying chemistry…I’ll shove that in with Irish tomorrow (does anyone else think those 500 poems are unnecessary? Well, thats another story). I should be going to bed now so ill talk to you all tomorrow. Study after school at 4.15pm…brilliant. Orthodontist appointment at 5.00pm…lovely.

Excellent things await me.