What you can do when you put your mind to it

After a summer of relaxation tinged with anticipation and perhaps a little dread the results of the Leaving Certificate were finally made available on Wednesday of last week to the 753 students who sat their exams in Cavan schools. Hanging around the school after receiving their results, drifting groups of students were receiving phone calls and responding to text messages. Knots of individuals eagerly compared results, discussed how different subjects turned out and made plans for how they would celebrate. At St. Patrick's College and the Royal School in Cavan town the students seemed pleased. Though some were a bit disappointed with one or two subjects that didn't go as well as they'd hoped, it was clear that the majority were able to smile and say the most important phrase: I got what I wanted. Lorraine Spotten from Ballyconnell, a student at the Royal School, was certainly smiling. She was one of only 143 students out of more than 57,500 who sat the exams to achieve 600 CAO points. "I'm over the moon, I can't believe it," she said. Lorraine's excellent results guarantee her a place on the pharmacy course at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin. She was gracious about her achievement and when asked how she managed to put in so much work and do so well, responded: "It's amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it." The boys are certainly not being left behind by the girls either. Cian Tierney from Ballyhaise, a student at St. Patrick's College, Cavan, is planning to study engineering at UCD on the back of his 570 points. The modest young man said: "I didn't think I was going to do as well as I did." Catriona McMahon from Belturbet is planning to follow in the footsteps of her older sisters and beat a path familiar to many Cavan students by moving to Dublin in September. Catriona is going to study occupational therapy. "I didn't expect it, I'm buzzing," she said. She was a student at Loreto College, Cavan and says the standard there was generally high: "There were a lot of 500 points." For many students the anticipation continues as they wait for the first round of CAO offers. The points for courses in the CAO system rise and fall each year depending on the demand for places. Naomi Pollock, a Royal School student from Newtowngore said: "I got exactly the points for Trinity but I don't know if they'll go up or not." Naomi intends to study law in Dublin but will have to wait until the first round of offers are made on Monday, August 17 before she knows for sure if she will be studying at Trinity or UCD. Teachers and principals across the county were also eagerly anticipating this culmination to their time as the young people's educators. Ms. Mary Ann Smith, principal of St. Aiden's Comprehensive in Cootehill, said: "While this is an anxious time for students and their families, we're confident they will have achieved the results they have worked hard for over the last five to six years and we wish them every success in the future." Mr. Sean Fagan, principal of St. Clare's College, Ballyjamesduff, highlighted the long hours of study that get students to this point. "I wish all students well and urge them to celebrate with their families and to avoid commercialism. Students work hard and it's great to see them doing well as the results come through." There are plenty of options open to this year's large group of school leavers, a point emphasised by Dr. Liam McNiffe, the principal of St. Patrick's College, Cavan: "Because of the media and public interest there's a great deal of pressure on students. "It's important to remember that there's always some course available. Because of the employment prospects it's probably better for students to continue their education. We wish all our students the best of luck." Dr. McNiffe's sentiments were echoed in those expressed by Minister for Education, Batt O'Keeffe, who also encouraged those who did well in maths and science to take up courses in those areas. And a word of advice: the importance of the Leaving Certificate for a young person's future is often over-emphasised. Even if students were disappointed there are still plenty of options available to them. However, for this year's Leaving Cert students, just as in previous years, it still feels like a momentous occasion; a milestone in their education and growth into adulthood.