"It's important for young people to know that their performance in either the Junior or Leaving Certs will not define them, or who they want to be."
That's according to David McCague who is the principal of St Macartan's College in Monaghan. 135,000 students sat down to their English paper this morning - up 3 per cent on last year. The largest increase however was recorded in those taking the Leaving Cert Applied programme.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Principal McCague praised the change he has seen within the education system over the years and how it offers different routes for young people in terms of pursuing the careers that they want to.
He added that it's important for students to take this busy exam period in their stride and to accept that this experience is "just a moment in time" that will not define them.
"It certainly doesn't define them and that is one of the key messages that we gave to our Leaving Cert students in particular," explained the local principal. "Their results and performance will not define them.. It's only a moment in time as they continue to grow on their lifelong journey of learning and discovery."
He added that it’s important to give students "space" at home, without constant conversation about exams and to ensure that they have adequate rest and a nutritional diet for energy purposes.
