I’ve just finished my first full day of Leaving Cert. I’ve actually been back since Monday but my school believes in slowly introducing us into the school environment, lest we lose our minds at the shock and start smashing desks, crying for our parents. Yesterday I actually wished it was a full day because I’m weird and freakish, but today I see the error of my thinking. I’m WRECKED. In previous years when I heard about this Leaving Cert Exhaustion, which I always presumed was either an excuse for more sympathy (cold hearted it may seem, but I plead ignorance) or a long term build up of fatigue that hits around May. Not so.
I’m not alone in this. As I left school today I stopped for a quick chat with a friend, and he reckons he won’t last the year, when he’s already “tired and emotional”. Much as I’m strangely enjoying myself – the hierarchy of my school being well and truly in favour of my year – survival is going to become a major issue. I got a major shock today as I left my English class, already planning how I’d spend my lunchbreak, when I realised that had only been the first class. The trauma, I tell you. I’d already got that nearly-finished feeling, which made the next 8 classes somewhat tiring. Not to mention yesterday’s PE class has left me somewhat unable to walk. Which is depressing, it was only rounders.
Also sort of terrifying is my already mounting workload. I’d always intended to study right away, but those intentions were a bit lofty and unlikely. Imagine my terror as I realise this is not only expected, but necessary. Timetabled for every Wednesday is a multi-chapter Geography test, meaning my life has already been consumed by memorising essays. That in itself is fine, but I’ve developed a lovely tendency to forget things after a night’s sleep (bodes well for the Leaving eh?) so my half dozen word-perfect essays from the night before can easily be rendered several incoherent sentences by morning. Maths has also become an issue in a totally unexpected way – my enthusiasm to study it can easily prevent me from going near any other books, and deceptively removes the guilt trigger as I’ve actually done a few hours study. I actually left my Maths book in another room this evening so I could get cracking on the History and Geography. Pretty successful technique, but I’m resisting going to give the Concise Maths duo a cuddle and apologise for leaving them.. Anyone know quick cures for insanity? Answers on a postcard.
But enough complaining. Anyone else weirdly enjoying themselves? Maybe it’s just me who’s genuinely excited at things like having a locker in the Leaving Cert area, but apart from the work aspect this entire thing is a right laugh. There’s a major sense of camaraderie, and the us-versus-them thing that was going on with some teachers has gone. At least I think so, any of my fellow students are free to tell me I’m mental and idealistic. I’m also quite amused by the general feeling that we’re invalids, suffering from a condition known as The Leaving. I’ve already used it as an excuse not to empty the dishwasher, set the table.. Even eat fish, I insist on “happy dinners” due to studying. This period of indulgence will not last, as I come from a fairly no-nonsense household, so I’m capitalising.
Well, I should probably hit the books again.. Geography, thou are a heartless mistress.
I know what you mean but our school is a mean one and we had full week and full workload at the start and our english teacher has decided that our double every week will be our test day and we have a religion teacher who actally teaches the subject even though we don’t do it for the LC and every other class can study at that time
I have the Religion problem too – I actually tried to use the three periods a week to do Music so I could cut down on the after school sessions, but not a chance.