Leaving Cert Diary: Spring Update
Here lies Sophia Stafford, aged 18.
Cause of death, 6th year.
Ok, apologies for the melodrama, but I felt an explanation was needed for my absence as of late and I think ‘6th year’ pretty much sums it up!
Let’s take it back to the Mocks. That was pretty terrifying I have to say, it was the first time I’ve sat exams as arduous as those. I was wrecked after the first few days! I mean a collective 6 hours for English, what a shock that was…I know the Mocks are designed to instill fear and inspire hardwork, which they definitely did, but, it must also be said how helpful I found them. (Although I think that mind-set can only be achieved retrospectively because February Sophia would have agreed they were the bane of her existence and that DEB and Exam Craft were the root of all evil.) They are an excellent opportunity to gauge where you are at, but more importantly I think they’re the only way you can learn exam technique properly. I had been so worried about knowing the material that I neglected how I would actually make it through the 3 hour exams. A mistake I won’t make again for the leaving cert. Timing and pace in the exams are much more important than I realised.
Also, my results in certain subjects surprised me a lot, overall I did a lot better than I had thought I would initially. I’m 40 points away from where I would like to be for the Leaving Cert and that’s not a bad position to be in if you ask me. Interestingly, I did better in the exams I thought would be my worst, and worse in the exams I thought would be my best, so that told me to discount this whole concept of the ‘forgotten 7th subject’ and just try my best for all 7. You never know what’s going to happen on the day.
The mocks were quickly forgotten as we ploughed through the remainder of the syllabus. We have finished the maths course (HOORAY!) not that that means I know the course lol but now I can focus on strengthening my existing knowledge and applying it to exam questions (why are they infinitely harder than the book??).
Things are kind of looking up, the evenings are brighter, my biology book is looking less insurmountable everyday and Business is a dream. I have to keep reminding myself that the leaving cert is in a few weeks and I can’t spend my time looking for outfits for Albufeira. In other news it’s project season, all my friends are soldiering through the endless workload of Politics, History and LCPE, not to mention Art and Musical practicals. My thoughts are prayers are with you all. I’ve never been more glad I do geography, our Field Investigation reports are due in May but my class have been sauntering along with them the past couple weeks and submit them to our teacher after Easter.
Speaking of Easter. Oh the Dread. I have a visceral reaction every time I remember that in a matter of days I will be facing the worst part of the Leaving Cert. I wouldn’t mind, I actually really enjoy languages and I do quite well in Irish and French but the unknown terrifies me, I don’t know what topics will come up, what the examiner will be like, whether I’ll forget everything and cry or, by the grace of my granny’s candle, suddenly become fluent for 15 minutes..a girl can hope. Once they are over though, it’s Easter holidays which I’ll have to spend studying and then once we’re back to school it’s like literal days before it’s all over … eek!
I’m increasingly aware of how little time I have left in school, in some ways I’m excited to go onto new things but in more ways I’m afraid because I’m so unsure of what these new things will be.
Right now, the CAO is closed, I have a few courses up there with my number one being Biological and Biomedical sciences in Trinity, but I’m still not sure! I know I’ll have to think long and hard about things when the CAO re-opens in May and I have to fill it out for the final time.
I know it’s all I harp on about but it’s so crazy to me that this stage of my life is nearly over, we’ve had our yearbook photos taken, quotes are sent in and the date has been set for graduation. Alexa, play ‘Ribs’ by Lorde on Spotify.
On a final note, if anybody has any recommendations for debs dress shopping, let me know!!