Whisper it… the Leaving Cert doesn’t matter

Jack, my adorable, laid-back, 6-foot rugby star grandson, is on the starting blocks for this year’s Leaving Cert challenge. The Brennan household, like thousands of similar families across the country, has been echoing with the word ‘study’ for most of this year. There is a lot of stress and tension in all these homes right now; totally unnecessary stress and tension – if only those involved would realise it.

Futures are being mapped out, points tallies projected, and a lot of it has more to do with snobbery than a young person’s attributes. ‘Doing medicine or law’ will be spoken in a higher octave in the coffee shop than, ‘he is training to be an electrician’. Apprenticeships are training for skilled, immensely satisfying, necessary trades – and are often better paid than the prestigious ‘getting into Trinity’.

Anyway, I gave Jack my tuppence worth of advice: ‘I just want you to do your best, Jack; same as I would wish for every challenge you encounter in life. But don’t be worrying about Leaving Cert results… because it doesn’t matter and this exam will not define you in life.’

This column’s advice to all Leaving Cert students is the same as I give my grandson. The results, when they come, will cause quivers around dinner-tables across the country; joy and disappointment in equal measures. But those results on their own will never define you and in other words, ‘don’t matter’.

Whether you look on it now as a setback or a launching pad, it is the start of an adult life where you will come to many a crossroads to ponder and then decide which road to take next. When one road is blocked, you don’t stop, but take a different route and often arrive at a more illustrious destination. Now, you can stop whispering and say out loud; ‘the Leaving Cert doesn’t matter!’.

I left school at 15. No Leaving Cert, not even an ‘Inter’ or ‘Group Cert’. Fewer students got to do ‘the Leaving’ in those days. Most of my friends who went on to ‘get the Leaving’ did well in life – but I did ok too.

Real education comes after school and you learn by doing. I concentrated on learning what I would need to know for my next project and picked up other knowledge in the process. There is an endless catalogue of more successful people out there who left school without the benefit of a Leaving Cert scroll.

We have a percentage of graduates in Ireland well above the EU average. That has led to a ridiculous situation where some employers look for employees with a degree that in no way should be required to do the job advertised. At one time I used hire a dozen third level students for summer work. High exam marks didn’t necessarily sway it for we. I looked for the ones who played sport and worked in hotels to pay their way. ‘Cop on rather than qualifications,’ I always said.

I remember telling you in a previous column that Henry Ford was a farm boy who never had a formal education. Neither of the Wright Brothers graduated from high school, but they believed they could fly. You too can fly, Jack; just so long as you have a flight path and stick to it. Exam results in August will only be a blip on your flight screen.

MEMO TO ALL LEAVING CERT STUDENTS:

Rockefeller dropped out of school at 16. He went on to amass an incredible fortune, estimated at $200m – and that was when money was money! You all know who Walt Disney was; well, Walt left school at 16 – as did also Richard Branson and Robert de Niro.

Benjamin Franklin was one of the main drafters of the American Declaration of Independence. He did even better than any of the above; having dropped out of school aged 10. Mark Twain would always have been a favourite inspiration of mine. Mark had a year’s formal education on Benjamin… having stayed in school until he reached the age of 11! Mark took up an apprenticeship – as a printer, I think. Two of our Irish notables, Eamon Dunphy and Jonathan Philbin Bowman, finished formal education at 14.

My wife tells the story of being a young enthusiastic teacher, replacing a teacher who was retiring after 40 years in the job. ‘Don’t be worrying about them, Allanah,’ advised the departing mistress. ‘The two greatest dunces I ever taught here were; (send a stamp addressed envelope for more information!) and look at them now.’ (Naming two separate wealthy Westmeath business men.)

Finally, we are not downplaying those who will obtain their desired exam points. You achieved your set goal… congratulations! That is your path – and good luck to you… but don’t look down on the girl who failed her exam. You could be working for her some day!

Don’t Forget

The plain fact is that humans are happy only when they are striving for something worthwhile.