Cork students to 'dig deep, keep their heads down, and do the best they can' in exams

SCHOOL principals have shared their advice with the 15,000+ Cork students who are sitting their Leaving and Junior Cert examinations from today, assuring them that nerves are normal.

A total of 6,719 students in Cork will sit Leaving Cert exams, 333 will sit the Leaving Cert Applied, and 8,260 will sit the Junior Cert.

Principal of Coláiste Éamann Rís, Aaron Wolfe, described it as the end of an era for the school as the final all-male Leaving Cert year group sit their exams this week.

He said: “This is the last year of what was called Deerpark CBS, so it’s all boys, and only 40 sitting the exams. For us, it’s a big deal because it’s the last Deerpark year group. It is the end of an era because it’s the last all-boys group to go through the Leaving Cert here.”

“Nerves are expected, but what we would be saying is that there is life after the Leaving Cert. It seems like a massive thing in your life now, but in the greater scheme of things, it’s not the be-all-and-end-all.

“Families are the most important thing now for support.

“To make sure that when the student comes home from the exam that you talk to them but don’t dwell on the paper, because it’s over, so just keep trucking on.”

Mr Wolfe also acknowledged all Junior Cert students who will sit their examinations from today, wishing them the very best of luck.

Principal at Coláiste an Chroí Naofa (CCN) Carrignavar, Colm Ó Corcora, echoed Mr Wolfe’s comments and said that getting through the first exam is the biggest step.

“Once the first exam is over, then you’re in the zone,” he said.

“The first day really is difficult, but once that first day is over the marathon begins and most of them will be done within 10 days or so and they’ll just have to dig deep, keep their heads down, and do the best they can — they’re very well prepared.”

Reassuring students who may be particularly nervous, Mr Ó Corcora said that this time next year, students will have forgotten all about the Leaving Cert and will have moved on to the next stage of their lives.

“In a very short time they’ll be getting their personalities back and become more than just a Leaving Cert candidate and they’ll have a long, hopefully hot, summer to recuperate and enjoy,” he said.

Deputy principal of Kinsale Community School, Claire Sheehan, reassured its 200 students sitting the Leaving Cert and 260 students sitting the Junior Cert that support remains available to them during exams.

“It’s important that everyone around the students are there to carry them through it,” she said. “We are still here, and guidance counsellors are available.

“We’ve also relayed to the staff and the parents to behave in a certain way, because that influences the students.

“If there’s a little bit of anxiety about it at home, it makes that worse, so we’ve been urging staff and parents to remain calm and to be there in the background to support them and to get in touch with us if they see there’s something that isn’t settling, rather than making it more anxiety-fuelled at home.”

ASTI president Geraldine O’Brien urged students to maintain a simple and balanced routine over the coming weeks, and reminded them of how much they have already achieved during their time as a second-level student.

She thanked those involved in this year’s exams including students, parents and teachers, exam superintendents, examiners, and the State Examinations Commission.