Results Day Realness
Results day and exam season in general can feel like tests in themselves, with the minutes of furiously scribbling down answers under the watchful eyes of the many invigilators flying by, yet the wait until the all-encompassing moment of results day dragging so slowly. You’re probably at the stage of barely recalling the answers you gave, let alone making predictions on the grades you might have achieved, so chances are tensions are quite high as you think about the future and what it holds. The distant memory of flash cards, textbooks and revision notes are often accompanied by the encouragement and reassurance of others, as by now you’ve probably heard the phrase “as long as you did your best then that’s all you can do” approximately 645 times.
“Life can feel like you’re forever chasing the next milestone, but whether your experience of education has been filled with laughter and friends, or stress and uncertainty, you’ll almost definitely look back on your experience in education fondly for the privilege it was to learn”
But despite the positive thinking, vision boards and manifesting for low grade boundaries, results day is one of mixed emotions for so many. Whether you achieve your predicted grades, fail the exam you needed to pass, or miss out on your first choice university, the pressure of academic success is one that feels so deafening when you’re enthralled in it. There’s a sense of conflict in being told “you won’t care what you got in 20 years time!” or “no-one ever asked me what I got in my GCSE’s”, but how can you really feel any reassurance in these statements when the pressure and value of these exams has been hyped up more than #AlexfromGlasto trending on Twitter? For so many students who are perfectionists or worriers by nature, the struggle continues, as self esteem becomes wrapped up in academic success and before you know it, your self worth is determined by the exams you had hoped to leave as a distant memory from all those months ago.
The privilege of an education is also sometimes forgotten in the midst of results, celebrations or commiserations, as we’re so keen to move onto the next chapter that we forget to look back at how far we’ve come. Life can feel like you’re forever chasing the next milestone, but whether your experience of education has been filled with laughter and friends, or stress and uncertainty, you’ll almost definitely look back on your experience in education fondly for the privilege it was to learn, find subjects you’re passionate about, discover the ones you hate and start to form your future path one step at a time.
Exam results really do mean both everything and nothing at the same time. It can feel so impossible to believe that success can be had through means not determined by a mark scheme and angry red pen, especially when academia has filled so much of our lives. Most teens don’t recall a life before being in school, so it’s unrealistic to assume that we can suddenly let go of any expectations or hope for what our results may hold. Equally, it’s also okay to care a lot. There’s no right or wrong way to react to your exam grades, and it’s okay to be disappointed if your results are deemed successful by most but are still not what you hoped for. There is no shame in aiming high and hoping for the best when it comes to your efforts, but don’t be blinded by the small mistakes you may have made and forget to celebrate the achievement that is finishing this chapter of your life.
So however you feel about results day, whether you’re nervous, eager or a combination of everything, enjoy your success, learn from your mistakes and almost certainly treat yourself to your favourite takeaway at the end of it all.