The Final Leaving Cert in Our House
Having spent many years working alongside exam students and their families, I am very aware of the pressure that accompanies this time of the year. As the exams draw closer, the Leaving Cert dominates conversations, fills news headlines, and occupies the thoughts of students, parents and teachers alike.
As adults, we have the benefit of perspective. We know that while these exams are important, they do not define a young person's worth, character or future. However, that perspective can be difficult for teenagers to embrace when they are standing on the edge of what feels like the biggest challenge of their lives.
The baby of our house is sitting the Leaving Cert. As well as marking the end of her secondary school journey, it also marks the end of an era for our family. This is the last Leaving Cert we will experience under our roof. It is a milestone that brings a mixture of pride, nostalgia and, if I'm honest, a touch of disbelief at how quickly the years have passed.
For many households, the Leaving Cert shapes daily life. Last minute study schedules influence family routines. Meal times revolve around revision plans. Conversations often return to exams, points and future plans. Alongside this comes a wide range of emotions—anticipation, excitement, stress, self-doubt and hope.
The good news is that education and employment pathways have changed dramatically in recent years. There has never been a wider range of opportunities available to school leavers. Whether through university, apprenticeships, further education, tertiary degrees, training programmes, study abroad options or direct entry into the workforce, young people now have more options than ever before to begin a fulfilling and rewarding career journey. Successfully navigating the next few weeks is simply one part of it.
As parents, there is very little we can do to change the outcome of the exams themselves. We cannot sit the papers for our sons and daughters, and few of us would volunteer to relive that experience. We cannot remove all of the stress and uncertainty they may be feeling. What we can do is manage our own anxieties and avoid allowing them to add to the pressure. In the days ahead, worries may surface about unfinished revision, difficult subjects, points requirements or fears of underperforming. These concerns are entirely normal. Our role is not to solve every problem but to provide stability and reassurance.
Perhaps the most valuable thing we can do is listen more and talk less. Even when stress is not obvious, emotions often sit just beneath the surface. Once the exams begin, much of the anticipation gives way to action and many students settle into a rhythm. Until then, they need to know that we are available, supportive, calm and proud of them. They need to know that they are valued for who they are rather than for what they achieve. They also need regular reminders that no single exam result can close every door and that multiple pathways remain open, regardless of the outcome.
Finding the right balance can be challenging. Teenagers preparing for exams need both support and space. Rather than hovering over them, we should aim to stay quietly in the background—close enough to help when needed, but far enough away to allow them to manage the process themselves. There are also practical ways we can help. Having a copy of the timetable visible at home, or entered into a shared digital calendar, allows us to understand when pressure points may arise. Encouraging good sleep, regular breaks and realistic study routines remains important, even if those suggestions are occasionally met with a roll of the eyes. Keeping the fridge stocked, ensuring there is decent food available and maintaining a calm atmosphere at home can make a bigger difference than we sometimes realise.
During the exam period there will inevitably be setbacks. A paper may not go as planned. A difficult question may appear. Expectations may not always match reality. When this happens, students need the opportunity to express their disappointment, regroup and refocus. The most helpful response is often to acknowledge their feelings, avoid lengthy post-mortems and gently encourage them to turn their attention to the next exam.
Throughout my career, I have supported Leaving Cert students and their parents through this journey. This year, however, I find myself experiencing it from a different perspective. Like many parents, I will have to take my own advice and practise what I have spent years encouraging others to do.
To every Leaving Cert student and parent, I wish you the very best over the coming weeks. I share your hopes, your concerns and your sense of pride. It is remarkable to think that this group of young people began their secondary school journey during a time of masks, social distancing and uncertainty. They have overcome challenges that previous generations never had to face, and now they stand ready to take their next steps into an ever-changing world.
After years of working with Leaving Cert students, and now experiencing it as the parent of one, I am reminded of a simple truth. A student’s potential to thrive in life is not based on achieving the highest points but on learning to adapt, recover from setbacks, embrace opportunities and keep showing up when things don't go to plan.
It is not that results don’t matter, but resilience matters more.
And if there is one thing I believe about this generation, it is that they have already proven they have plenty of that.
To the Class of 2026 (and parents!), go n-éirí go geal libh ar fad!