Introducing Jennie: An experienced Leaving Cert-er.

Today, I registered myself to vote. It didn’t exactly seem like a big deal; I was neither sat down and lectured about how much of a privilege it is to live in a democracy nor told about the plethora of people who died for my right to have a say in the running of the country I live in, but I’ve been delighted about it all day.
A vast array of my peers couldn’t really give a toss about voting, current affairs, politics, or even this recession thing they’re hearing so much about and I’m sure readers of this very blog are rolling their eyes and thinking “Less boring drivel, more hilarious rants”, but I have a point, I promise.

I’ve no idea why some young people see these things as a matter of complete unimportance, but there’s certainly a parallel between this apathetic attitude and the attitude a great deal of people take towards the Leaving Cert.

“Ah sure, it’s only the Leaving! Who cares, no big deal.”


Well, here’s where I get to introduce myself. I genuinely do care about things like voting. And the Leaving Cert.
Hello, I’m Jennie, and I’ve absolutely no problem admitting to you all that I’m taking the Leaving Certificate completely serious. Now.
For you see, I can identify with both parties. As I’m a repeat student I’ve been as aloof and lethargic about the Leaving Cert as I can be and now, I couldn’t care more about it. I’m actually a student who’s genuinely concerned about results and the likes! I’ve learned my lesson: Do not take the Leaving Certificate lightly.

Last year, admittedly, I did not doss and/or scoff at those who were aiming for high points as I was in fact one of these aforementioned students who was aiming to take over the world, one A grade at a time. My primary problem was that I lacked some vital components for a perfect student- maturity, determination, enthusiasm- almost everything but intelligence to be honest. I sailed through sixth year as if in a tumult of fascination, leaving everything until the last minute and epitomising a procrastinating student. You’d hardly believe me if I told you all that the first time I looked at Atomic Theory in Chemistry, which comprises the first eight or so chapters of the book and is guaranteed to come upon the paper, was the night before my Leaving Certificate exam. There was a lot of coffee consumed that night.


I suppose now is the time to tell you all what I did achieve then? Well, 550 points actually. Usually when I announce this I hear a resounding “guh???” from all those assembled, followed by an extremely sarcastic “Yes, you really were apathetic towards the Leaving Cert, weren’t you?”
Well, everyone has different expectations and mine were, rather lamentably, much higher than this. I’m aware of the fact that my points were pretty damn good, but they clearly weren’t sufficiently so if I didn’t get enough points to do my course of choice- which is medicine. I hear it’s not very nice but a spoonful of sugar helps.

I’m sitting the same seven subjects as last year, namely Irish, English, Maths, French, Biology, Chemistry and Geography, and I’m doing more than ever before. If I don’t get to study medicine next year I’ll be devastated, and I now know that high points involve effort, dedication and commitment.


I just started in De La Salle College in Waterford, which may seem slightly strange to those of you familiar with the place, seeing as it’s an all boys’ school and I’m not, well, male. The school is, however, aware of this mild technicality and I can assure you that it’s not a problem in the least. There are in fact a rather small number of other females who are sharing in my situation- they have a co-educational repeat year it seems. The ratio still looks a little something like this though:
Boys : Girls
100 : 1
I’m clearly in a rather unique and interesting situation, how many girls go to an all boys’ school after all? I used to attend a ridiculously small all girls’ school not far from where I live, and now? I’m in this huge school full of testosterone and hilarity! I love it, and I’ve got a feeling many of my blogs will be intrinsically linked with the strangeness of it all.


I won’t give away all of m
y amazing plans for this blog just yet, mainly because I’m not organized in the least and haven’t a clue what’s to come.
I can, however, tell you all that they won’t be as drab and informative as this one. I’m really more of a hilarious ranter, so feel free to check back regularly and leave me some feed-back.


There’s plenty more I’d be only delighted to write about right now but I’m off to the pub. Even apparent nerds (
√16 life) need a break.

Discuss the leaving cert in the forum

11 thoughts on “Introducing Jennie: An experienced Leaving Cert-er.”

  1. Frick- the “I’ve no idea why some young people see these things as a matter of complete unimportance, but there’s certainly a parallel between this apathetic attitude and the attitude a great deal of people take towards the Leaving Cert.” bit’s meant to be above the “Ah sure, it’s only the Leaving! Who cares, no big deal.”

    Typical! My first post’s a disjointed mess.
    *rolls eyes*

  2. Socialism4Life

    ah i have a lot of quotes from that blog that id love to pick out cuz i felloff my chair laughing,but im simply too busy 😛

    but yeah good blog jennie 😀
    kinda sets in why were repeating

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