GCSE’s and A Levels are done. Congratulations, you get to enjoy an extended summer and get to look forward to whatever next step you have decided to take. No more stress, lots more free time, and the excitement of social events like prom and group hangouts.
The end of exams is a bittersweet feeling for many. Maybe your friends are all taking different paths, or you’re leaving behind your favourite teacher. Many of the people you went to school with have been people you have known from the age of eleven. You all went through the same stages in life and experienced the same news and trends. But going different paths proves how different we all are.
From experience, my GCSE summer was one of the best summers I have had. I spent a lot of time with friends, discovered a new sense of style, and improved myself. Prom was also such a great experience. Seeing your classmates all dressed up and having fun was a great contrast to the last few months of showing up to exams looking exhausted and ready to be done. At prom it felt like everyone just hung out with everyone and it was one big party with students and teachers. I’ll forever look back on those memories.
Another key moment of GCSE summer was results day. Everyone was nervous. Whether you decided to apply for sixth form, college, the army, or any other path, it was a tense atmosphere to start with. However, getting your results is impressive regardless of the grades. If you didn’t quite get the grades you needed, that’s okay because there are other paths to take. If any parents are reading this, then do not add extra stress to your child if their grades weren’t quite what you hoped them to be. Help them find alternative paths and celebrate the small victories.
For those hoping to go to sixth form, do the summer homework! It’s a great way to get a feel for the A levels and show your teachers that you do care. Taster days are very beneficial as well. A friend of mine was an external student, and I asked her about her open day at the sixth form we both attend-” I absolutely loved it. I feel like that was when I made most of the friends that I came into the new school year with. I met some of my current friends through taster lessons, and that really made me feel confident across the rest of the summer going into September. It was really good to see the layout and the teachers.”
Also, staying in contact with people who you don’t go to school with anymore is great as well. A college student said that he “felt like there’s more freedom to it. It’s a better fit with what I want to do in the future. College offers more career specific courses. The taster days were definitely worth going to.” So, any path you wish to take will depend on what you wish to do in the future, and if you don’t know then do something you are interested in and could see yourself benefitting from in the future.
So, enjoy the extended summer. Do not stress too much and make sure to create as many memories as possible so your future self can envy you.
