Results day 'just a stepping stone'

The halls of Mullingar Community College were abuzz on Friday as their Leaving Cert students arrived to collect their results. Teachers and students dotted the halls and classrooms laughing, joking and reminiscing.

Principal Emmett Kenny was beaming with pride at the success of the students. “It’s a brilliant group, a lovely group,” he said. “They’ve done really well on many different levels, in many different ways, they’ve done so, so well.”

He said the teachers are also delighted. “It shouldn’t be based on results, but I suppose you’re hoping that your kids get what they deserve. They’ve put in a lot of work and it seems for the most part they’ve got what they deserved.”

The Leaving Cert class were the first generation of Covid students. “Some of these kids I didn’t see for the first year,” said Emmett. “I didn’t see their faces or their smiles.

“But they’re one of our nicest groups we’ve got here; they were particularly special. Even the number who’ve come in today to collect their results in person, I wasn’t expecting because it’s online now.”

In one of the classrooms, a group of boys were sitting around the table waiting to open their results together. Afterwards they hugged one of their friends who had done very well, clearly pleased for one another.

One girl, Andreea, arrived in the school in fifth year. “I came in a bit late,” she explained, “but I felt welcome and it was such a great time. I am hoping to do general nursing in Athlone.”

Year head Brian Melody praised the students for their hard work. “I’m really proud of them,” he said. “It’s great to see them be happy with their results, and to see the work they put in throughout the year, and get what they deserve is great.

“We have a lot of smart kids here and they really did themselves proud. It was a tough year, different things happen throughout the year, and it’s hard to maintain focus, but in fairness to them, when they had to, they really put their heads down and did what they had to do.

“As the teachers, we can really only lay the foundation, along with the parents, and we can only show them what to do and how to do it. They have to want to do it and make sure they achieve their potential, which thankfully they are willing to do – and they did it.

“So it’s great to see and hopefully in a couple of days they get their reward in the CAO. Today is just a stepping stone and there are plenty and plenty of options out there.”