I walked into school on the 14th of March to my principle walking around the canteen, telling her students to take all their books home in the event of a closure. Although it seemed very extreme to the worried 6th-year students who had yet to finish many of their courses, we emptied our lockers, unsure of whether we would be re-entering the school the next day. We all know what happened next. For the following weeks, all we could do was wait for more news. I knew what was happening around the world and although many family members had called to tell me of previous exam hiccups such as teacher strikes, nothing came close to the situation we now find ourselves in.
For me, this was and still is a terrifying time. I dedicated many hours of leisure, missed out on social events and skipped parties just to study for the exams that would decide my future. The idea that this time could all have been wasted makes me very anxious. I want to get out and explore the world, live life to its fullest but the prospect of the Leaving Cert hangs in the balance. No one knows what will happen which is causing stress and anxiety to students who have been forced into routine since they were 4 years old, their whole educational lives building up to this major exam which now may not even go ahead.
Although we are still receiving work and help from our teachers through apps such as Teams, this is not enough. Many people find it extremely difficult to concentrate at home as it is associated with leisure rather than work for many students. I myself find my regular study enduring and find myself having to bring my attention back to homework from the smallest distractions such as a dog barking. I can only imagine what it’s like for students with younger siblings. Furthermore, I am finding that we are receiving more work than we would regularly even in exam years. I have a sibling in First Year who is receiving high levels of work daily, putting him too under pressure.
However, I have to commend the government on their quick action and attempt to still have the LC in July/August. Personally, this would have been my preferred option as I feel predicted grades would have caused many disagreements from students who believe they would have performed differently on the day. It is still frustrating though, that we have lost out on what would have been a most enjoyable summer, as we found ourselves completely free from the stress of exams and project deadlines. Teachers are promising that various events will be rearranged but without the security of a vaccine, we cannot confirm anything.
This is different from any situation we have ever found ourselves in and because of this, we depend largely on social media to stay in contact with friends and family. But with social media comes fake news, lies and pressure to fit in. It is easy to lose yourself in the countless pictures and videos of people being productive during isolation and it is very common to find yourself feeling isolated. This can lead to changed sleep routines which in turn affect moods and anxiety levels.
During this difficult time, everyone feels lost. The uncertainty of life nowadays and the sudden changes we have all had to deal with have taken their toll on many young minds. All we can do is wait for more news and hope that we can all soon return to normal life which we will all appreciate that little bit more.
Help information
If you need help please talk to friends, family, a GP, therapist or one of the free confidential helpline services. For a full list of national mental health services see yourmentalhealth.ie.
- Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
- Pieta House National Suicide Helpline 1800 247 247 or email mary@pieta.ie – (suicide prevention, self-harm, bereavement) or text HELP to 51444 (standard message rates apply)
- Aware 1800 80 48 48 (depression, anxiety)
If living in Ireland you can find accredited therapists in your area here:
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