Departure

Here we are, it’s A Level results day tomorrow and whilst I’m sure that many of you will be tossing and turning tonight, I’ll be spending the night on a layover at Barcelona Airport en route to Kent, Ohio.

I know that it’s been a long and difficult two years for you all, and although my results day was now 1 year and 364 days ago, I still remember so clearly how you must all feel as you wait for the results that will dictate the next 3+ years of your life. The nervous excitement as you imagine the best possible outcome, the dread as you imagine the worst and the annoyance as you remember all that free time spent napping/on Facebook that could have been spent revising.

Not that it will stop you from worrying, but I think it’s important to remember that no matter how many times you say “I know I’ve not got an A/B/C/etc  in ____”, your grade wont change from what it is now. By now, your chosen University will know your results and this time tomorrow you’ll be on your way to finding them out too. So make the most of your last day of blissful ignorance, this could be your last education-free day for the next few years, so do something fun!

Who knows, this time next year you could be sitting looking at your packed cases trying to imagine how so few clothes will get you through a whole year of study abroad. I’m doing it right now, and I can tell you it’s worrying. I haven’t even set off yet, and already this year abroad is the most rewarding/stressful/exciting thing I’ve ever had the good fortune of doing.

So my advice is, enjoy today, embrace tomorrow, and whatever the outcome, give yourself a pat on the back. I’m going to Ohio with my two best friends from UoL and one of them came here through clearing after being disappointed with her A Level results – imagine how different both of our lives would be had she revised that extra bit and not arrived in Leicester last September and sat beside me in our welcome lecture.

If you’re feeling sad, here’s a puppy to tell you you’re awesome.