Thousands of students across Cork, Munster and Ireland will begin their Leaving Cert on Wednesday, and, for many, the worry and anxiety about the future will intensify further as soon as they take their seat for that very first paper. Many students are already looking ahead to September, searching for accommodation near the campus of their dream university – but there are young people who don’t really know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Back in 2017, I was the
latter – I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I remember in the lead-up to the Leaving Cert, I logged into the CAO to check which courses somewhat interested me, and I viewed from lowest points to highest because I knew I wasn’t a 625-point student. As a matter of fact, I was a 244-point student, out of a maximum of 468 points due to three ordinary level subjects. For me, I really enjoyed my time
at Garbally College, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, now known as Clonfert College due to an amalgamation, and I fully engaged in class, completed my homework and achieved other obligations. I wasn’t disruptive in the classroom or dismissive of the powers of education, I was content with doing my bit every day and enjoyed learning. In class, I knew I was surrounded by people who would go on to become teachers, pharmacists, engineers and lawyers. I also knew I was surrounded by people who would go into
a trade, continue to nurture their family farm or search for the American Dream by emigrating to America or experience European charm by moving to the continent. After the Leaving Cert, I returned to Garbally College to collect my results, and I was buzzing with the 244-point tally because I achieved my goal of getting over 200 points. I accepted Hotel and Catering Management at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (now ATU), but I quickly realised I didn’t envision sticking with the course. After two weeks,
I deferred my place for a year and decided to do a Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) course for the year to find out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I ventured to Galway Technical Institute (GTI) to pick up their prospectus, and I flicked through the pages on my way home to Ballinasloe, with journalism and barbering standing out to me. After a coin flip, I landed on journalism and decided to apply for a PLC place, which I got.
PLC courses are full-time courses for people who finished second-level education and adults returning to education. During my year at GTI, I fell in love with the practical way of learning rather than the rote learning ways of secondary school. Fast forward to May 2018, I completed the journalism PLC and received my results in which I earned eight distinctions out of eight, the maximum marks. I needed five distinctions to qualify for a university place, so I knew I had a horse in the
race. Although I’ll never know the sensation that my peers felt when they logged into their CAO account to view their offers a year prior, I’d imagine it was like the feeling I experienced when I logged in during the summer of 2018. I was offered my top choice, which was Journalism and New Media at the University of Limerick (UL), and I felt complete relief. Third-level institutions have a limited amount of course places for PLC students only because there isn’t a fair metric
to measure Leaving Cert points to PLC distinctions. In UL’s case, their Journalism course had two PLC dedicated spots, so to obtain one of them was an incredible achievement. But I knew there was an element of luck involved because if everything didn’t fall in my favour, I would be back to square one – not knowing what I would do to fill my days. So, if I could give one piece of advice to those sitting their exams this month, put your best foot
forward but remember what is for you will not pass you by. In modern Ireland, there are many avenues available to help you get to where you want to go in life. It may add an extra year or two onto your studies, but you’ll get there. Also, the number of points you achieve is not the only way to measure your intelligence, and I’m living proof of that. I achieved 244 points in my Leaving Cert in 2017, but through my PLC results, I
graduated with 2:1 honours for a course which required 420 points at the time. If you are disappointed with your results in August, please realise there are a plethora of avenues available to you, and I would urge you to, at least, explore them. In terms of parents and guardians, I would advise them to support their young people over the next three weeks. What is done, is done and they’ll value your support now more than ever.
Leaving Cert, 244 points, PLC, distinctions, University of Limerick, Journalism and New Media, advice to students, Garbally College, Clonfert College, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology