I remember my A levels

Thinking back, completing my A levels seems like a long time ago but at the same time, I feel like they could have occurred last week! I finished my A levels in 2014 and I found it to be a stressful time. Saying that, I liked the challenge that they provided and I was proud of myself when they had been completed.

On results day itself, I remember the build up being immense. I knew the number of points I had to achieve in my final exams to reach the grades needed for university and I remember thinking about this a lot over the summer. It’s difficult as results day comes after something like a two month break, so it’s a long anxious wait. During the summer itself, I tried to stay busy and I was working full time at McDonalds.

The day itself began with a rough night’s sleep. I doubt many of us can sleep before something like results day. It’s like the sleep before a holiday in a weird sort of way. However, it was before 7am and I turned on the computer and kept checking. Results on UCAS were released pretty early about 7:45 I think and after refreshing the page quite a lot of times, I saw the result. I had done it – I had met the number of points required and was going to my first choice of York St John. At first, I remember just shouting for my mum and she came rushing in and she was so happy! I don’t think it had hit me yet…. I had spent months waiting and it is always like an anti climax. I still had no idea how well I had done in my actual exams so was probably still anxious about that but I was so relieved. I had done it – was on my way of reaching my goal of becoming a primary teacher.

After this, it was preparation of coming to university. I kept working full time until the day before I left to begin university so packing was probably a bit last minute. But we did it, packed everything including things that I would never have thought of packing. Had an emotional farewell to family and was excited to start the next chapter of my life.