DON’T LET EXAMS BE A DREAD CERT
Students urged not to get too stressed over Leaving
WINNERS of this year’s AIB Future Sparks Career Skills Competition by CareersPortal attended an awards ceremony in the capital this week.
Students, their families, teachers, and guidance counsellors gathered for the bash at the Clock Tower in the Department of Education on Thursday. Around 1,500 entered the contest, which was open to senior students who have undertaken a work experience placement.
Some students gained work experience at primary schools, hair salons and labs while others learned how to become an astronaut in NASA and one even took on a role as a Member of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The winners were Aoibhin Collins, Annabel Bogue, Sarah Dunne, Aoife McCann, Ellie
WITH the Leaving Cert exams coming up in just a few weeks time, students are being urged not to put themselves under too much stress.
Recent studies have shown how exam time can put pressure on students and affect their mental health and wellbeing.
However experts say that students, and their parents, should keep a sense of perspective and not place too much importance on the Leaving Cert.
Now, a national mental health charity will begin free online support groups, starting next week for three weeks, for students feeling stressed about the Leaving Cert.
The charity, Turn2Me, first launched Leaving Cert support groups for students in 2022 which was welcomed by teenagers and parents alike.
A survey conducted by the Health Research Board in 2017 found that exams are the biggest source of stress for students, with 78 per cent of Leaving Cert students reporting that exams make them feel stressed.
Turn2Me said the Leaving Cert can be an extremely stressful time for young people and their families, and that it can cause panic attacks, anxiety, and low self-esteem for many, affecting both revision and exam performance.
The charity stated that these support
McMahon and Karthik Sreekanth, who won a MacBook Air laptop,
Fiona Dunning, AIB Head of Customer and Community, told the students skills can be “vital” in their “future careers and can prove beneficial to their development”. groups will be a space where young people can share their struggles anonymously and receive tips on how to deal with stress, panic attacks, anxiety, and other issues from a mental health professional.
“Young people can really struggle with their stress levels, coming up to the Leaving Cert,” Fiona O’Malley,
CEO of Turn2Me said.
Impact
“It can be challenging to perform well in a particular type of exam, primarily ‘rote learning’ or a memory test, with some exams backto-back.
“It’s a marathon and if students don’t manage their stress levels throughout the Leaving Cert, it can have a detrimental impact on their performance throughout the exams.”
In order to curb stress, students are being advised to make sure they are getting enough sleep, take rest breaks from studying and to engage in some exercise.
They are also being urged to not put too much pressure on themselves and to keep their expectations in check.
Ms O’Malley also said that many parents may feel lost when approaching their teenagers during exam periods. She explained: “They’re not sure what to say or how to get the balance between being supportive and not putting too much pressure on their teenagers. “You don’t need to give a long Ted Talk every time you see your teenager but giving them words of encouragement can be really powerful.
“Popping into their room every hour when they have a study break with a cup of tea, a glass of water, healthy snacks and being quietly kind can make a hugely positive difference.
“These seemingly small practical actions can make a massive difference for those studying.”
Students preparing for the Leaving Cert are encouraged to sign up now on Turn2Me.ie.
There is no waiting list, students just need to register as a user on Turn2Me. ie, and then register for the group in advance.
The support groups will run online at 6pm on Thursdays for three weeks, on May 16, May 23 and May 30.