Worried about the leaving

LegacyUser

So the leaving is in 10 weeks 3 days and I need between 550 and 570 and I'm ****ing terrified. I've studied hard since 5th year and I got 520 in my mocks. However, as much as I'd like to say I've improved a lot since then plus one of my marks was very unfair (even my teacher agreed with me) I'm finding it really hard to believe I'm going to be able to do it. I look around at all the 'high point' people and I don't really feel I'm one of them. I feel like they're all up until midnight studying but I'm in bed at 10.
I'm just so worried the points are going to rocket and I'll end up with a course I'll be bored with or won't be useful and to top it all off I'm exhausted. I cannot remember the last time I actually enjoyed anything and I'm wandering round in a constant daze of equations. I'm just really sad all the time.

snafuk35

lcstress1 wrote: »

So the leaving is in 10 weeks 3 days and I need between 550 and 570 and I'm ****ing terrified. I've studied hard since 5th year and I got 520 in my mocks. However, as much as I'd like to say I've improved a lot since then plus one of my marks was very unfair (even my teacher agreed with me) I'm finding it really hard to believe I'm going to be able to do it. I look around at all the 'high point' people and I don't really feel I'm one of them. I feel like they're all up until midnight studying but I'm in bed at 10.
I'm just so worried the points are going to rocket and I'll end up with a course I'll be bored with or won't be useful and to top it all off I'm exhausted. I cannot remember the last time I actually enjoyed anything and I'm wandering round in a constant daze of equations. I'm just really sad all the time.

It's only for a few more weeks. Work your backside off. Keep it up and it will pay off in the end.
Life is hard and that's not going to change.
When you go to college you will also have to work your backside off and the real life of work is tougher yet especially when you get married and have kids to look after.
You just have to toughen up more, crack on and just do it.
Complaining really doesn't solve anything.
You just have to do it and that is that.

NJS007

The worst thing that you can do its worry about it because as long as you are thinking you are going to fail, then it will always ve there in the back of your mind....

As long as you are putting the time in to study and are studying the right things then you will get your points....

Have a little faith in yourself....

Stavro Mueller

If you accept that you can't control everything, maybe it might help. All you can do from your point of view is continue to study and do as best as you can. Try not to think about what may or may not happen with the points, what you got in the mocks, what other people are doing.

Don't think either that just because other people are staying up til midnight studying, that they're taking in any more information than you are. You can cram all you want and study til the wee hours of the morning but your brain can still only process a certain amount of information. If you're going to bed for 10, then so be it. It's what you do in the preceding hours that counts. It's quality rather than quantity and you need your rest. You're a human, not a machine.

There's still plenty of time between now and then so try not to get stressed. It's amazing what work you can still do before June as long as you put in the work and don't do anything silly.

And if things don't go quite to plan, it's not the end of the world. Have you given thought to courses that you could put down as your second, third, fourth preference? Would you be happy to do those either?

Another thing to bear in mind is that even if you don't get what you want this time around, there are other ways to get there. I've no doubt you don't want to repeat the Leaving again (that used to give me the shivers when I was your age) but are there other routes? Could you do a different course and transfer into this one at a different stage, for example? It might not be the ideal and would take longer but if you want something badly enough... I know now, for example, that it's possible for people who've done a different university course to transfer into medicine at a later stage. There are so many options out there that all isn't lost.

UrbanSea

To say you're over reacting is an understatement. If you got 520 in the mocks then that's a very good start. A lot of people tend to go up from the mocks if they keep up the work, mocks are notoriously hard marked on purpose, so people will keep working.
Don't worry about what other people are doing. A lot of the time people will make up how much work they're doing or exaggerate it. Focus on your work and not others.

analucija

I stayed twice up whole night to study and both times the results were miserable. You are studying regurarly and you are sleeping well which is exactly what you should be doing. So relax.

lace

Hi OP!

First off, let me say : 520 is an absolutely AMAZING result in the mocks! Well done on that!!

Two things you said in your post really stuck out to me: 1) you're exhausted and 2) you're really sad all the time.

Studying and learning off all the necessary information is important but it's also important to look after yourself too. If you're stressing yourself out and panicking all the time you're not going to be able to do your best. You'll need to be relaxed enough to be able to re-work what you do know, choose the right questions and answer them in the right way. It's not long since I did the LC and having a calm approach and a level head really helped me answer the questions to the best of my ability.

You're definitely doing the right thing by going to bed nice and early. Staying up studying when you're tired won't do you any good. You won't retain the information and you'll just make yourself more tired (which will impair your studying the next day too). Try to take a while before bedtime to relax and unwind. Read something you enjoy or listen to some music.

Be sure not to wear yourself out. Take regular study breaks and get away from the books for a little while every day. During your breaks, try to get some fresh air (or just study with a window open) and a bit of a stretch (going for a short walk can help). Try to do things that make you happy and to spend time with friends and family.

It sounds like you already have a study plan and have been studying consistently since 5th year. Keep it up and you're well on the way to your 570 points. Whether or not the points go up is not within your control so try not to worry about that. Just do what you can, study hard and be good to yourself. It will pay off in the end.

R.D. aka MR.D

The leaving cert is not as important as they make it out in secondary school.

I did really bad in my leaving after having being expected to do well. Why? Because I put too much pressure on myself.

I thought my life was over. Didn't go out to celebrate. Cried for a full day the day I got the results then for the 2 weeks if anyone mentioned it or it came into my mind.

But did it ruin my life? No. Everything worked out perfectly. If it is a particular course you need then you can repeat or there are other ways into courses.

Keep doing what you're doing and relax.

Wompa1

You don't NEED those results. What happens happens, It's not the end of the world. Just go with the flow. Your profession will not make you a good person or define who you are. Also brains won't ensure you succeed in a job either, you need a good acumen, ethics and hard work.

Good luck, don't sweat it

Stavro Mueller

Don't forget either that these are just the mocks. I seem to recall from my schooldays that the mocks seemed to be marked that bit harder than the real thing

OP, if you continue on in this way I reckon you might end up burning yourself out. What's almost as important as studying is making sure to get out once in a while and go see a movie or have a laugh with some friends etc. It'll recharge your batteries for your studying.
Next, the LC isn't the be-all and end-all. Really, it isn't. Even if you don't get an undergrad course you want, there's usually a different route you can take around it to do it at postgrad level or different qualifications etc.
As for what other people do, it doesn't matter what other people do. It's better to be doing a couple hours of focused productive studying than clocking up useless hours just for the sake of it. It's not a competition with them. Focus on your own studying, what gets your own results, and get feedback from teachers on homework etc where possible.
Finally, even if worse comes to worst and you have not the points and considered your options with a career guidance person and are set on the course you want, plenty of people repeat every year and you can do that either.

I'm sure you'll do fine, just take care of yourself and best of luck

saa

High pointers do get their sleep! You are so capable and yet you are obsessing and emotionally consumed by the WORST CASE SCENARIO, I would start 10 minute meditations, guided ones on youtube because if you are stressing all the time you are producing a lot of cortisol which will run you down mentally and psychically, maybe you should talk to a counselor about the pressure for some reinsurance that things will be okay,
-you are a high pointer the world is your oyster and for people who excel academically the CAO is not the last port of call
-you can repeat
-you can wait a year or a few years to decide which course you are aiming for because if you're so worried about being bored with a course it seems like you may not be sure what it is you're expecting or want to achieve.


And also if you are sure that you can see yourself in a high paying secure career to do with the sciences, engineering etc. always consider going abroad to study as there will be other criteria such as letters and interviews if you do not meet the cao points here which is ridiculous that suitability is based on a number.

I think you can give yourself permission to calm yourself take time out, seek support and re do you time table and list of tasks,
generally people score higher in their actual LC and you sound like you are well capable and you will score very highly do not discredit yourself.

beks101

Don't overthink this and don't compare yourself to anybody else. Especially not the 'high pointers'.

I routinely stayed up beyond 3am studying in the weeks leading up to and pulled two all-nighters the week of my LC - that was in direct contrast to my 'high-pointer' classmates (and definitely NOT adviseable!) and I did just as well as them.

My point is, what works for one won't necessarily work for another. You need to find your own rhythm here, get into a routine that works for you and keeps you strong, physically and mentally. If that means going to bed at 10pm to get as much sleep as you need, then keep that up - it could be the difference between having and not having the stamina and mental strength to push through an especially difficult paper when the time comes.

I'd reiterate the advice given about past papers - go back as far as you can and note any and all patterns and consistencies in subject matter yourself, as well as doing and re-doing them as much as possible. This made up the bulk of my study for the months in the lead up to the LC and I'm positive it's what bumped up my points from my mocks at Christmas.

Also, if I remember correctly, most people who actually put in the work in my year ended up adding about 100 points to their mock results in the real thing.

Very best of luck. And don't forget to allow some 'down' time. Get out for a walk in the fresh air, go for lunch or watch a movie. It's really not worth burning yourself out over.

up for anything

lcstress1 wrote: »

to top it all off I'm exhausted. I cannot remember the last time I actually enjoyed anything and I'm wandering round in a constant daze of equations. I'm just really sad all the time.

This is a terrible indictment of that farcical examination known as the Leaving Cert. You're 17/18 and panicking about the rest of life based on the points you'll receive in this one exam. It's not bloody fair putting this pressure on children.

You've had lots of good advice about studying from the other posters so I won't repeat it except the bits about taking time out for yourself. You need to do other things than school, study and worry about studying. Take your head out of your books one day a week and get outside in the fresh air, meet up with friends, stress instead about your fake id not getting you into the pub on a Saturday night. For that one day do something completely unconnected with studying and avoid people who spend their time hashing and rehashing their mock results and trying to work out what they'll get in the real LC. If it makes you feel too guilty, then spend a couple of hours that morning studying but leave it at that.

Feeling sad all the time is not good - it can be a sign of depression. There is no point in getting the points you want and a few to spare if it then has a knock on effect on your first year in college.

Have you someone you can talk to about this? Do you feel that other people are putting some of this pressure on you? Could you confide in your parents?

LegacyUser

Thanks so much for all the wonderful advice everyone!

I don't like talking to my friends about it because I'm seen as this really happy-go-lucky person and I'm basically never allowed to be in a bad mood or I'm being narky (not a brill situation I know but once this year is done hopefully I'll find a new crowd). I used to be able to talk to my ex but we haven't spoken in months. Parents wise, I'm not that close with them really.
I think the main source of pressure is I feel really trapped in my school. I have to be so fake all the time and the thought of facing into more of this or even a course with the same type of people doesn't bear thinking of.

happyfish

OP I got high points in the leaving, I worked hard but I wasn't sad or in a daze all the time. That really isn't normal.You're clearly so bright and it's terrible that you feel this way. Your mock results are absolutely fantastic and it's obvious that you'll achieve whatever you want to achieve in life.
More than likely you will get what you want in the leaving but if you don't, it doesn't matter, you'll still get wherever you want to go once you have the brains and the desire there are ways and means. Things like the points rocketing are outside your control but once you're in that high point range it's unlikely to be so dramatic.
It's clear from reading your post that you are one of the "high pointers". That's got nothing to do with your actual leaving cert points it's the drive and the ability which you have in spades. Keep getting a good night sleep and a good diet and just stop worrying so much. If you do find yourself getting overwhelmed just take a break and breathe for a little while. Have a chat with your favourite or class teacher, see what they say. I'm sure it'll be only great things but at the same time you shouldn't feel any pressure.
Good luck OP the leaving isn't the important thing here you've your whole life ahead of you. Don't get so stressed.

snafuk35

up for anything wrote: »

This is a terrible indictment of that farcical examination known as the Leaving Cert. You're 17/18 and panicking about the rest of life based on the points you'll receive in this one exam. It's not bloody fair putting this pressure on children.

You've had lots of good advice about studying from the other posters so I won't repeat it except the bits about taking time out for yourself. You need to do other things than school, study and worry about studying. Take your head out of your books one day a week and get outside in the fresh air, meet up with friends, stress instead about your fake id not getting you into the pub on a Saturday night. For that one day do something completely unconnected with studying and avoid people who spend their time hashing and rehashing their mock results and trying to work out what they'll get in the real LC. If it makes you feel too guilty, then spend a couple of hours that morning studying but leave it at that.

Feeling sad all the time is not good - it can be a sign of depression. There is no point in getting the points you want and a few to spare if it then has a knock on effect on your first year in college.

Have you someone you can talk to about this? Do you feel that other people are putting some of this pressure on you? Could you confide in your parents?

OP don't listen to this rubbish advice.
The reason you are anxious is because you need to study more.
So study and cut out everything else until the exam.
Your entire focus should be on the exam and NOTHING ELSE.
This is your life and you have to do it.
No ifs buts or maybes.
You have to whether whether you are dreading it or not.
Let the losers and quiters take a day out.
They won't be around in ten years when you will be looking back and saying why didn't I? Do you want to be in that situation?
No?
Well now is the chance!
This is the rest of your life and that is that.

Canard

snafuk35 wrote: »

OP don't listen to this rubbish advice.
The reason you are anxious is because you need to study more.
So study and cut out everything else until the exam.
Your entire focus should be on the exam and NOTHING ELSE.
This is your life and you have to do it.
No ifs buts or maybes.
You have to whether whether you are dreading it or not.
Let the losers and quiters take a day out.
They won't be around in ten years when you will be looking back and saying why didn't I? Do you want to be in that situation?
No?
Well now is the chance!
This is the rest of your life and that is that.

Thats silly. 520 is excellent in the mocks and you dont need to do a lot more study if you did so well already. Honestly OP, I'd say your stress is down to trying to keep that up in the real thing - which you will, no doubt Just keep chipping away at things, find where to improve, youll be fine

And take a break if you need it...I got around the same in my mocks yet here I am struggling to keep it up :pac: We're all human, we all need breaks so we dont burn out. Keep a record of what you get done and reassure yourself that youre keeping on track

lazygal

OP, it's 12 years since I did the leaving cert and I can just about remember what I got. Like you, I was aiming for a high points course and putting myself under a lot of pressure. I'm not sure if I can give a lot of advice on how to deal with the stress because I just put the head down and counted down the weeks one by one, I still kept up my couple of hobbies and meeting friends etc, but I did focus a lot on the exams. I got a very good leaving cert at the end.

But I didn't get my first choice, a course I thought I wanted since I was very young. I missed out by a few points and ended up on a more general course I had put down without really thinking about too much. In hindsight, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. The pressure to really excel that I would have felt in the high points course was gone, okay I am academic so I put pressure on myself but it was a satisfying sort of pressure that I could handle and actually enjoyed. I studied a few subjects in first year, had a great social life, made loads of mates and really had a fantastic time. Then over the next three years I was able to narrow my subjects to study things I never thought I'd be learning about.

I've now had three different careers since I left college and have had the chance to enter the industry i would have gone into had I got my first choice, but its now an industry in serious trouble and a lot of people I know who work in it have been let go or are on greatly reduced salaries. Its no longer the ticket to a well paid and long career for life, whereas I've had the chance to travel for work, meet and work with a really diverse bunch of people and now that I'm having my first child am able to take a career break for a while and return to my current industry without difficulty.

I guess my long winded post is really trying to give you some perspective. I KNOW these exams are a massive, massive deal right now and all you can think about is points to get your course, but there is a whole lot of life after it. I know very, very few people who ended up working or studying what they thought they would but you know what? Most are happy, working (here or abroad) and have had the chance to do things they never thought they would when they were sitting those exams with a number of points needed in their head. I wish you the best of luck and this time next year I hope you're doing something that makes you happy. There are many routes into all careers, a college course in the area is only one way to go.