Guest column: Tanya Bardsley
My heart goes out to those young people who are suffering so much stress and uncertainty over the A-level and GCSE results fiasco. Even though some have better grades after the government’s U-turn over the failed computer model, many are experiencing disappointment or a mad scramble to change their college or university places. That’s unfair, because they’ve studied so hard for so long in order to move on to the next phase in their lives .
Preparing for big exams is stressful enough, and then added to that was the anxiety around the pandemic, so to have all this chopping and changing with their futures is heartbreaking for them.
When I was in school, I suffered from alopecia because I felt under so much stress to get good grades. I was basically told, “You need to get the right results or your life is over!’” I had dyslexia, which was undiagnosed at the time, so I really struggled academically.
For some of this year’s youngsters, the fall-out from the non-exams, and being robbed of the chance to sit them and prove themselves, could well be detrimental to their mental health. There’s so much pressure on them and they’re bound to be scared for their future. All I will say is, I didn’t get good grades, but it doesn’t mean your life’s over. I’ve done OK – as well as my career as a model, I’ve also trained as a life coach and even written a book, despite being dyslexic. I believe that positive thinking and a good mindset will help you succeed. We need to remind our kids that grades are not everything.
My eldest daughter Gabriella is 18 and she is still at college because she changed courses. She was doing make-up originally and is now studying aesthetics – it’s what interests her and makes her happy, and that’s the main thing. I also have sons Rocco, 11, Renz, five, and
Ralphi, three [with footballer Phil Bardsley], and the way
I see it, as long as they have happy and fulfilled lives, that’s all I can ask for. You have to have passion, otherwise you’re not going to want to get up and throw yourself into your work.