Life After The Leaving Cert

Pathways and Crossroads.

Now that the leaving cert results have been announced there will be many graduates facing different choices and pathways. Some of these decisions will be determined by expected outcomes whereas for others this moment will bring uncertainty. There may be the need to reassess where to go from here. Perhaps for some this will be the first time in their lives where thinking outside of previous expectation is required. For others, it will be one step further along a chosen path.

Follow Your Heart.

There are many famous instances where classroom ability fails to reflect the intelligence, ingenuity, and potential of a student. Albert Einstein’s poor schooling record, which included an expulsion, is the perfect example. A more recent entrepreneur who did not receive a degree was Steve Jobs who had this to say, “Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other opinions drown your inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Reflect, Act and Believe.

Today might be the day when you decide upon your dream and begin to pursue it. Or, maybe it will be the day you realise that the dream you thought you wanted is not for you. However, at moments like this, it is always beneficial to reflect upon where to go next. Perhaps you will look back upon your schooling and find yourself exactly where you want to be. Or maybe you will decide to move in an entirely new direction. The world is full of dream jobs waiting to be filled, and you may become the new Steve Jobs or Sheryl Sandberg or you may not. In the words of Anatole France, “To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan but also believe.” Remember no matter what, tomorrow is the beginning of whatever you want it to be.