‘Results don’t define you - they’re only a snapshot in time’ says Cork school principal

A Cork school principal has shared advice for students who may not receive the Leaving Certificate exam results they had been hoping for.

Coláiste Éamann Rís principal Aaron Wolfe advised students: “The results don’t define you — they’re only a snapshot in time. Lots of people at their age don’t even know what they want to be when they grow up — their futures are well ahead of them.

“People should be celebrating today,” he said, advising people to celebrate responsibly.

“They shouldn’t be too hard on themselves if they don’t get the results they wanted, because life has a way of working out.

“There’s lots of different ways into jobs now, the big achievement is actually doing the Leaving Cert — it’s a rite of age.”

Mr Wolfe acknowledged that “some people will be very upset”, and if they are, they should go to their schools and meet with their guidance counsellors next week.

“If you don’t get what you want, you’re still connected to your school and they can give you advice about back doors into different courses.

“Any adult will tell you, they didn’t know what they wanted to be when they were young,” he said, adding: “Everything happens for a reason”.

National mental health charity Turn2Me has also reminded students and families that exam results do not define a person.

Paths to success

CEO Fiona O’Malley said: “It’s important for students to that their Leaving Cert results are not the final word on their abilities or potential.

“There are many paths to success, and this is just one step along the way. If things didn’t go well for you on the day, there are so many alternative routes into different careers, including conversion courses.

“Our message to students is simple: You are more than a set of grades. While exams are important, they do not define who you are or what you can achieve in life.

“It’s OK to feel disappointed if you didn’t get the results you were hoping for, but it’s also important to keep things in perspective and know that there are many opportunities ahead.”

Turn2Me is offering free online counselling sessions and peer groups to help young people navigate the stress associated with exam results, encouraging students to reach out if they need someone to talk to or if they are feeling overwhelmed.

Congratulated

The minister of state for further and higher education, research, innovation and science, Patrick O’Donovan, has congratulated students and commended them on all their hard work.

He said: “I want to reassure everyone that, while it is a significant day, the Leaving Cert results do not define you as a person, and even if you didn’t do as well as you hoped, there are a variety of different pathways available to your chosen studies.

“There are so many different opportunities available now for students, including [Further Education Training] and [Post Leaving Certificate] courses, more than 70 different apprenticeships, and of course the new unified tertiary degree courses, which allow students to earn a degree outside of the [Central Applications Office] system.”

Mr O’Dovovan said that “education is now, more than ever, a lifelong journey”, explaining that there are constantly new courses and pathways being developed, and his department will continue to drive these new initiatives so that every person in Ireland can reach their full potential.