With only one more sleep until around 55,000 students in Ireland collect their Leaving Cert results, we caught up with Executive Director of Ireland’s youth information website SpunOut.ie Ian Power to get some advice for students and parents who may be feeling worried.
“It’s totally normal to feel anxious just before your Leaving Cert results, but there are things you can do to help keep that stress under control,” he begins.
“Whether you’re a student or a parent of a student, it’s important to remember a person’s results today won’t control the rest of their lives. Even if you fail an exam, that doesn’t mean that you’ve in any way failed as a person. For most people, the news will be good and come as a relief, while for others it might mean their plans are changed or delayed, and that’s never the end of the world.”
“If you are feeling stressed, make sure you talk about it. That can be with a friend, a family member, or a confidential call to the Samaritans. If you have a hobby, like sport or music, that can be a great way to take your mind off things and give you a healthy outlet for how you’re feeling. There’s also a wide range of relaxation tips and breathing exercises available online that can really help you feel calmer in stressful situations.”
“If you find your anxiety is getting too hard to manage and stopping you from living your life as you want, then I’d recommend scheduling a visit with a doctor or mental health professional. I’d also say to try and avoid alcohol for now, as it tends to increase feelings of anxiousness rather than numbing them.”
“Whatever your results are, remember to take things one day at a time and give yourself the space you need to process how you’re feeling before getting too caught up in how they affect your long-term plans.”
Good luck to all collecting results tomorrow.
