Limerick students react to first Leaving Cert exam
ALL ACROSS Limerick, sixth-year students woke up this morning in a flurry of nerves and excitement as this year's Leaving Cert got underway.
English Paper One began this morning for both honours and ordinary level as hundreds of students across the country piled into their secondary schools turned exam centres.
The first paper at John the Baptist Community School (JTBCS), Hospital seems to have “gone down really well” amongst students according to Principal Rachel Hayes.
“I think it was a very very fair paper. Every student we’ve spoken to seems to have found something in the paper that’s really suited them,” she said.
Ms Hayes not only wants to thank the teachers and staff at the school but also “the parents and guardians who got the students to this point”.
Student at the school Katelyn Moloney felt “very happy” when she woke up this morning.
“I was feeling excited to just get in and actually do it due to the months of preparation that have gone into it so I was ready to put my best foot forward in the exam.
“I think it went well… All the titles were really acceptable, there was something there for everyone. It was a very good paper to start us off,” she said.
Fellow student at the school Luke White also felt the paper went well but exam nerves got to him this morning.
“Overall, I felt confident going into the paper. Prep has been going good and all the teachers are excellent and have a personal approach to education,” Luke said.
Sixth-year students weren’t the only ones to sit their exams this morning as today also marks the beginning of the Junior Cert for third-year students.
Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy has urged the people of Limerick to have Leaving Cert students in their thoughts and prayers as they commence their exams.
Bishop Leahy said it is undoubtedly an important day for students but it’s essential, too, that the exams are put into perspective as they do not define people’s lives.
“First and foremost, I wish the students well; that they manage to get the best out of themselves as they sit their exams no matter what level they achieve.
“These exams are, of course, academically important at this stage of their lives but there’s no one I know who would look back thirty years or so later and say that their life course was set just by their Leaving Cert weeks. So there does need to be a level of perspective put here, that if they don’t work out as the students hope, other doors can open.
“Ultimately, I think students should pat themselves on the back today for getting to this moment, for putting the work in. For some, there might be setbacks but it’s important to remember there are many career routes today and definitely more jobs than there were for previous generations, so it does not all depend on these exams,” Bishop Leahy added.
The Leaving Cert continues throughout June with the final exams taking place on Tuesday, June 27.