Schools out but D-Day looms for exam students

Aine McMahon Breifne College The pupils of Breifne College Cavan were in relaxed form when The Anglo-Celt spoke to them in the days before the Leaving Certificate. Timothy O'Brien (18) from Denn is studying the three main subjects along with physics, history, art and French. He is doing all higher level except Irish and hopes to study psychology. "I'm not really nervous about it. The courses I want to do are quite high points but I'll aim high and hopefully get psychology in Trinity. I have continued to come into school because the teachers are there and with less of us here we can go over and revise stuff we're not sure of. I haven't made too many plans for what I'll do after the Leaving cert because I've been trying to ignore it for so long, but it's happening now!" Darren Walsh (18) from Cavan town is studying the three main subjects along with French, physics, chemistry and history. Like Timothy he is taking all honours except for Irish. "The difference between the honours and pass Irish course is ridiculous. There is a massive jump, I was doing honours last year and decided to drop down as it was taking too much time to study." Darren is hoping to study physics with astronomy in DCU or computer science in DCU. Pre exam jitters are clearly not an issue for Darren: "No, I'm not nervous. I'm pumped! I'm ready for it". Darren is already looking forward to the summer and a time to relax. "I'm planning on heading over to Italy for a trip and maybe stay with a guy who came over to us here on a foreign exchange trip, we'll see." Colm Smith (18) from Cavan town is taking the main three subjects along with French, engineering, design and communication graphics and physics. "My subjects are all pointing towards engineering but I'm still not 100% decided on taking that route. I might switch into something else." Colm is uncertain about his course but is sure of one thing. "I'll be sticking away from Dublin anyway! I'd prefer to go to Sligo, Galway or Athlone." Colm has mixed feelings about the impending exams. "I am kind of nervous for a few subjects but other than that I'm ready for it! I just decided to keep coming in because I work better in a school environment. I know then that I have to get up, put on a uniform, sit at a desk and I only have four walls around me. With no distractions from Facebook or TV, I get far more done and the teachers are there to make sure of it... Gets me into work mode," he explained. The boys were all in agreement that as soon as the exams were over on June 21, it will be party time. The Royal School Manchester native William Ridley (18) moved to Ireland when he was four years and is taking the main three subjects along with art, French, biology, chemistry and geography. William attended an Irish Gael Scoil so studying Irish is no problem for him. He plans to go to Ballyfermot and study cinematography and then film studies. "It has a good reputation and it is a big interest of mine. When the Leaving Cert is over, I might be heading to Brussells." Jane Millington (19), Kells, is taking the main three with music, German, chemistry and biology. Jane is hoping to do nursing in Dublin. "I'm not too nervous yet. Once I get the first subject out of the way, I'll be grand. Hopefully I'll get to Oxegen and maybe Spain when it's all over." Rachel Slaughter (18) is a boarder at the Royal from Newtowngore, Co. Leitrim. She is taking the main three subjects with home economics, biology, French and accountancy. "I'd like to study law or journalism in Galway or Dublin. I'm really nervous to tell you the truth!" Zahaa Manzar (18) Cavan is taking English and Maths but not Irish as she has an exemption. She is also taking French, chemistry, biology and art. Zahaa hopes to do Medicine in UCD having sat the HPATH exam in February, Zahaa faces an anxious wait on results day in August. "For some people the h-path is a good idea because studying medicine is not purely academic, it is also about what kind of person you are and how you relate to them." Zahaa hopes to do some charity work over the summer break. Ruth Lowry (17) Ballyhaise is taking the main three subjects and home economics, biology, French, accounting and geography, all honours except maths. Ruth hopes to do arts in Maynooth with a view to becoming a teacher. "My sister went there and I liked it at the open day. I'd be lying now if I said I wasn't nervous but it will be fine!" "I might be going to South Carolina with a group of friends so I can't wait." Uilliam O Reagan a boarder from Cavan (18) is doing all honours in the main three with accountancy, biology, chemistry, geography and technology. "I want to do medicine but I'm not sure if I'll get it because I'm way too laid back!" If he does not get medicine, he may do engineering. "I took the h-path, it went well at the time I thought. I think it's a great thing because I know a lad who got 480 points who got into medicine because of the h-path and he wouldn't have had a hope otherwise. He is now the top in his class." "I'm not nervous yet but I wasn't until I got talking to him so it rubbed off on me! I have my driving test the day after my last exam but that will be me done for a while!" Jack Compton (17) a boarder from Redhills is doing the main three with geography, TCG, and french. He hopes to do automotive design in DIT. "I'll try and get a bit of work for the summer until then." David Ecclestone (19) Cornafean is taking the usual three along with agricultural science, French, accountancy, home economics and geography. "Some people might think home economics is an unusual choice for a boy but I like watching cookery programmes and it will stand to me in the future. There's lots of other lads in the class so it's nearly 50/50." David is planning on going to Ballyhaise College for a year and then go to UCD to study Agricultural Science. "I do a bit of farming work myself so I hope we have a good summer." I left the students to say their goodbyes and sign each others shirts as they go into the final stretch. The Anglo-Celt would like to wish all exam students the best of luck in their exams and for the future.