Tomorrow is a big day for a lot of the island’s teenagers, with A-Level results due to find out whether they’ve got the grades they want.
This is also the annual day when Jeremy Clarkson reminds everyone he got “a C and 2 Us” and now owns a massive farm and is a multi-millionaire.
Don’t ignore him, because yeah fair do, but also don’t think that is some natural guide to success, Clarkson leaves out a few things in that story.
As someone approaching 30 and therefore totally disengaged with that life is life for sixth formers, here’s Sam’s tips for the day.
Mr Gilbert
Everyone remembers the opening of the Inbetweeners Movie with Mr Gilbert right?
Well your teacher, no matter how glad/sorry (delete as applicable) they will be to see the back of some of you, if your exams don’t go well, they will be around to help, whether that is with clearing or with looking to resit an exam, speak to them.
With the exception of those who you may end up buying you a pint one day, this is the last chance you have to get them to help you, so speak to them.
Don’t worry
Whatever you get, it will only determine what happens tomorrow, little else.
I didn’t get the result I needed for my politics course, so I took a random course I was offered and went to Nottingham Trent (We’d rather be a polly than c, actually best not finish that one) anyway.
Once I was there, I knew I didn’t want to be on whatever my course was so worked to find a new one.
Here’s the thing, universities are a business and they are not cash rich right now.
For all intents and purposes, they want your cash (via the Manx govt signing the cheque), so if you don’t get onto the course you want, but still want to go to that particular university, take the plunge.
Once you’re there, you have a lot of power over the uni, namely the money they want out of you, even if you can’t get on to your first choice, look at what other courses you like the sound of and try get onto them, unis have people paid to help you with this.
Don’t Go
I went to uni, had a great four years, made some great mates and the old cliche is true, is it the only chance you have of your fam being proud of you for being a (sometimes barely) functioning alcoholic who always wants money.
However, I also know people who didn’t stay for A-Levels or didn’t go to uni and are earning much more than I am writing this rubbish hoping that someone other than my mum will read it.
So whether you get your grades or not, do what works for you, if you want to go into a trade, UCM has some great courses, if you want to take a year out, go do that, if you want to do an apprenticeship or just go get a job, crack on.
Down it
Whatever your results, round up your mates and go the pub afterwards.
You’ll be amazed how quickly you’ll realise you haven’t seen two of them for four years, one has vanished altogether and another is awaiting trial for something that doesn’t really surprise any of you.
If you don’t drink, I genuinely have no help for you.
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