Leaving Cert is only small part of life’s tests

Leaving Cert is only a small part of life’s tests


THE warmer weather and the brighter evenings signal the onset of summer and the beginning of the Leaving Certificate. For most, the thought of sitting through these end-of-year exams brings feelings of foreboding and anxiety. But it is important to remember that these exams are only a small part of the greater test that is life itself.
Nothing will be decided or determined on the back of these results that cannot be undone or amended later on. So, for the thousands of Leaving Certificate students about to sit their final school exams, I offer the following life advice for the future.
 1. Don’t covet what you don’t understand. Life has a nasty habit of compensating a desperate thirst for enlightenment with massive disappointment and the more active the imagination and anticipation, the bigger the crash back to reality. Take each step as it comes and try not to heighten expectations too much. That isn’t a call for pessimism, but adjusting your expectations to service realistic ambitions won’t see you too far wrong.
2. “Never meet your heroes.” The more I think about that advice, the sounder it seems. Investing in hero worshipping is a pointless and futile exercise unless you’re prepared to accept that they’re only human. There is nothing wrong with aspiring to mimic genius or setting goals based on another person’s achievements, but artificial adoration for its own sake is a poisonous and unhealthy pastime. And ultimately, it can only lead to disappointment.
Be happy in your own skin and don’t place too much faith in becoming that stranger on a screen. Your closest allies and role models may be all around you.
3. The driving force behind many high-end achievers burns from the inside out. Most successful people motivate themselves through their own personal desires and wishes and not through an ambition to replicate another person’s success. The most efficient workers are those for whom the process is just as important and enjoyable as the end product. Ask yourself a question: To what end would a person pursue a goal if the journey to the destination was not enjoyable? Most would give up long before completion. Many wouldn’t even give the process a second thought to begin with. After all, time is precious enough without spending it being miserable. These exams may feel like a gun to the head, but I promise you, from here on out, the options you take will be largely of your own choosing.
Choose wisely, but never feel obliged to stick to a beaten road. There are always other options.
4. Free advice is usually best ignored. If a stranger offers you something for nothing, it’s generally because they’re trying to sell you something. And if the advice was worth heeding in the first place, you probably wouldn’t be getting it for free. As social media continues to infiltrate our everyday lives, there will always be someone willing to offer their two cents worth. There is a huge amount to be said for following your gut and backing your own judgement. And if you need some help along the way, seek out a professional. Nobody I know ever got rich on the back of a free tip. And something that’s not worth charging for, is usually not worth listening to.
5. Don’t carry school hang ups over into the next stage of your life. Your classmates are growing up and maturing, just as you are. The people you think you might never see again could be the decision makers in your quest for success. Don’t do or say anything over the last days of school that you might later regret. I haven’t met a single person that could tell me they were the same at 17 or 18 that they were at 30. Or 40. Or 50. Holding a grudge for a teenage hang-up is pointless and exhausting.
5. Save money and never rely on the banks for anything. If I had to start over, I would set aside 30 percent of everything I earn and save it. Some of you will take up jobs directly out of school. Some of you might get part-time jobs to get you through college. But whatever road you decide to take, stick 30 percent of your wages and stash it away. You never know when you will need it and as a life habit, it will serve you in good stead. If the money is gone at source, you won’t miss it. And nothing beats the security of knowing that you have a few quid stashed away should you need it. The reverse is absolutely terrifying. Trust me on that one.
6. Stay positive, but never be afraid to share a problem. Nobody can go through life on their own and without help. Seeking out assistance is not a sign of weakness, rather, it is a reflection of maturity and a willingness to look for other options. Advice from friends, family and even professional guidance can be the difference between success and failure.  Bottling fears and anxiety is a fast route to an early grave.
To all the students sitting exams, may I wish you the best of luck. And remember: always answer the question you are asked!