‘The best decision for me’ – Laura's story

The joy of receiving that slip of paper with your results, or the disappointment that follows.

These emotions, either good, bad or mixed, were felt by over one thousand students last week when they received their Leaving Certificate results. It's an experience unknown by Cavan woman Laura Tilson, and it's something that she does not regret.

Like many students who embark upon a second level education, Laura had planned on sitting her final State exams.

It was at the end of fifth year when she took the decision to "quit school altogether" with the aim of completing the exam herself at home.

"It wasn't successful," she recalls to the Celt.

Laura highly praised her parents, both of whom showed her "nothing but continued support" in her decisions.

Due to personal reasons and a neurological disability, Laura knew that the "school path, traditionally the Leaving Cert wouldn't work out" for her.

Now 23, Laura recalled the "fear" at the time, when she was wondering what she could do to progress her career.

"I was determined that I wasn't going to let quitting school get the better of me and I was determined to go on and go to college."

With the help of her mother Lavinia, a former principal at Ballyconnell Central National School, Laura discovered Iona College in Kells where she enrolled in a pre-nursing course in 2019.

The experience has shown her that the traditional Leaving Cert route is not the only career path.

"We are all taught that the Leaving Cert is the only path that we can take to secure a place in third level education.

"To be perfectly honest, going the alternative route and doing a level five qualification, only for that I wouldn't be where I am today."

Laura completed her level five course and took on work experience in Oak View nursing home where she later began working during the Covid pandemic.

Upon receiving her college results, Laura pursued a Joint Honours degree in Law and Politics in DCU, something "very different" to what she had initially set out to do.

Originally she had put down nursing and psychology on her CAO form, however just one hour before the change of mind portal closed she put law and politics as her first choice "on a whim".

To her surprise, she got accepted to the course on Round Zero of the offers.

"I was over the moon, and from there then I just sailed off," she laughs.

Laura graduated in 2023, and is now in the process of becoming a qualified solicitor with hopes to commence the examination process shortly. She has worked with Senator Fiona O'Loughlin in Dáil Éireann, and is now working for a solicitor in Athlone.

"I'm looking forward to where that brings me now in the future."

"So yeah, it all worked out," she says of the decision she took as a fifth-year student.

To those who perhaps are not happy with their results, or to somebody who is struggling in school, Laura has the following words of advice: "The Leaving Cert is not the be all and end all. It's not the only path.

"From my own experience you can achieve whatever goals you have, personal or academic, if you utilise ambition and determination and even curiosity in the right way."

Leaving school was the best decision for Laura, she firmly believes. "It's really helped me develop as a person because I was just so determined to carry on with my education."

Throughout the whole process, Laura says the support of her family made a big difference.

"My determination fed off the support that I got."

"Of course mum and dad were scared, as any parent would be, and I was also scared but I found my way and anyone in the same position, they will find their way."

"From an academic point of view I excelled after I left school but from a personal point of view it really helped me develop into the person I am today."

"I have no regrets, I am very happy where I am in life at the moment.

"There is always an alternative way even though it may take longer.

"Sometimes the longer route to where you want to get to in life will teach you the most."