As we all should know the deadlines for course work and upcoming practicals are approaching.

22rd April - Finishing date for LCVP link modules portfolio

25th April - Finishing Date for Textile Studies Elective
Coursework in Home Economics Scientific
and Social.
• Finishing Date for Leaving Certificate
Religious Education Practical
Coursework Journal.
• Finishing Date for Leaving Certificate
History Research Study Report.
• Finishing Date for Leaving Certificate
Geographical Investigation Reporting
Booklet.
• Finishing date for Leaving Cert
Music, Higher Level Elective in
Composing.

28th April - Start date for assessment of LCA Task
Work, (Session 2 Year 1) Vocational
Education and Vocational Preparation

29th April - Question papers for Leaving Certificate Art
– Craftwork and Design to be distributed to
candidates.
30th April - Question papers for Leaving Certificate
Art - Imaginative Composition or Still Life
and Life Sketching to be distributed to
candidates.
• Finishing date for Leaving Certificate
Construction Studies Project work.

Best of luck to everyone who has participated in any of the above course work. Next month will bring the start of many practical exams.

An overview of the past few weeks.

Today I finished my final Oral examination. My Irish and German Oral completed, along with the music practical exam completed. And the feeling is great. But what now?

Mood wise I am better than ever. I enjoy the day of school in a way I have never enjoyed it before. Which is a sure sign that it is time for me to get out of there. And by that I don’t mean I enjoy sitting there listening to the droll voices of teachers who’s own enthusiasm to teach is at the same level of the majority of students willing to learn. And I don’t blame them.

I sat there day after day wondering when it would hit me. Hit me? Yes, that burst of motivation that hits most students around this time of year all over the nation. I feel like I’ve missed that train, and was left behind. Me and a hand full of other students in the same position as myself. Surely I want to do well to get into college. And I do, I really do. But I have not an ounce of motivation inside me, to sit in a class and be told what to do.

To me the pre’s were of no benefit at all. I missed a day due to illness which affected two of my exams. I had not completed course work to be reviewed which affected a further 3 of my exams. And I got no result on one subject, as the school managed to lose my exam answer sheet. Doesn’t get any better than that.

So here I am. Laughing about the Mocks. Enjoying the weather and making the most of the last few weeks I will spend in school with my friends. Only thing left for me to do is, find the train I failed to jump aboard a while ago.

It has all begun and the end is near. This week signifies the start of the official Leaving Cert exams… scary. With my Irish oral behind me and my music practical yesterday, I say to the Leaving cert – “Bring it on!” You’d never expect that you wouldn’t be nervous during these exams but it’s a simple fact of – over preparation. Except for that one girl I know of who puked up before her exam. Looking back on my Irish oral I really could have contributed more:

“What would you do if you were Mary Hannifan”

“Oh, I really don’t know what I would do to be honest, she’s the one in the olympics, yeah?”

It seems that what she was trying to make an opener for the conditional tense, she only had to say!

Music went relatively well too, I am not the most musical of students. It went as well as expected, examiners make great liars “good lad that was very enjoyable” – oh yes, I was only playing something completely different from what I was looking at. Thank you Dan!

My study method is working out great, cramming of course. No professional endorses the idea but it really does work! What’s left? 8 weeks? I’ll give it seven weeks before I study to make sure it all sticks.

What’s next in life for Colin Lowry? Let us see… my very late history research study has to be handed in, French orals in one week and my practical art exam in a few weeks. I feel like getting sick…