Lots of Ballymena students will be receiving exam results from this week on. This is an exciting time but it can also be disappointing. It is important to remember that there are lots of options to explore and that all is not lost.
Exam Results are in – What next?
1/ Talk to your parents – Disappointing your parents is not a good feeling, but please remember that they want to help you. Tell your parents your results as soon as you can – that means you won’t be adding pressure onto yourself thinking about how they are going to react. At the end of the day your parents want to support you at this time and the more quickly you involve them the better. Get the difficult bit out of the way and then you can move on
2/ Speak to your teachers – When you get your results if you are disappointed or confused you should be able to get in touch with your school. Teachers are there to help you sort out your options. You may be thinking the worst but you won’t be able to confirm if you have to leave school, or resit until you actually speak to someone.
3/ Consider your options – If your exams did not go well then there is a chance that school might not be the place for you. We know that it is scary and upsetting to leave all your friends behind and go somewhere else but it might be the new beginning that you need. Here are some of your options:
- Check out what the Northern Regional College has to offer. Their courses are often more vocational and more focused than A-levels and the relaxed atmosphere often suits less academic students. Visit their website here.
- Consider an Apprenticeship. That means that you can work and train at the same time. For more information click here to visit Seven Towers Training.
- Get a job. Looking for a job can be daunting but if you aren’t sure about your future plans then working for a year could give you some perspective and help you to put your plans in order. It also means that you will have a year of work experience done by the time you will be applying for your new course giving you transferrable skills and confidence.
Continuing at school isn’t always the best option for everyone – please read our article about why it might be time to move on. Be brave and remember that there are lots of people who are willing to support you and help you at this time. You have lots of options and it is important to chose what is best for you – don’t just go with the crowd or follow your friends. This is your opportunity to explore a new future.
If you are anxious, or feeling like you cannot talk to anyone about your feelings please click here to visit the Childline website or call them on 0800 1111.
Please share this with anyone who has just received their exam results. Share the Conversation – Ballymena Today.
