So, Scottish Higher results were released last week, A-levels this week and GCSEs next week. Tensions are high in so many households, and there are teens wondering and worrying about how the world is going to carry on if they don’t get the magic 5, or the grades needed for uni. We can tell them that whatever happens, the world keeps turning, and the sun still rises and sets, and life carries on, but right now that means nothing. Everything, every possible future, their whole lives depends on what is on that piece of paper. Except, sometimes not getting your magic 5, your predicted grades, or any grades is the best thing that can happen. These are true stories.

Story 1:

A young man of 18 went to get his A-level results so that he could go to the university of his choice and read accounting & finance. He was clever, top sets at GCSEs, so although he had enjoyed a few nights out with friends in the lead up to exams, he felt relatively confident that he’d done OK. And then he opened the envelope, and saw that the predicted grades weren’t there at all. There was no way he was going to get into his first choice (or possibly second choice). Determined to go to university, he got into a college (not uni) to do an HND (equivalent of a FdSc today), and he had the best time, came out with good grades and on graduating, got a job in accounting. Different route, same outcome. Today, he is the managing director of a successful IT company, has worked all over Europe and is now planning his next adventure.

Story 2:

A young teen wanted to do biology GCSE, but was told by her biology teacher that she was not good enough to get good grades. Fast forward to GCSE results day, and they were all fine, but no biology. A-level choices were compromises, and, again, she did OK, but not fantastically, getting quite a lot lower than her predicted grades. Realising that she was not on the right path, she chose not to go to uni, and worked, got married and had a child before finally going to uni at 26 to do a biology based degree where she came top of her cohort. She then went on to do a biology based masters, and was top again. Just because a teacher tells you something doesn’t mean it’ true. If it’s what you really want to do, you will find a way.

Story 3:

A skware peg struggled all the way through school. Exam results were never particularly good, and he got into a cycle of ‘I’m not going to to well, why bother trying’. GCSE results day wasn’t very good (2 passes above C), retakes were the same, but after getting Maths & English Functional Skills at level 2 (GCSE equivalent(ish)) he got onto an AS level course, got a place at uni, but, again, had a disappointing results day. He took a year out, found himself, got a place at a different uni, and has just finished his first year, but because of his determination, may not be going back full time as other opportunities have appeared.

These are all true, and happened to people I know.  I also know people who got their grades, went to uni and have fantastic careers doing what they wanted to do. There are others who didn’t go to uni, didn’t do A-levels, and they are successful in their chosen fields. And there are others who choose to travel, to have a family & be a stay at home parents, or to go from job to job as they see opportunities. All of these people are successful in their own way.

So, to the parents and carers of those waiting for results this week or next, my advice is this: in the long run, it doesn’t matter what that piece of paper says. It will matter on the day, and will matter for several weeks later.  But sometimes, not being allowed to take biology, not doing well in your A-levels and doing things the ‘long way round’ is a blessing. I am glad I didn’t take biology. I am glad my grades weren’t that good, and I am glad that the world kept turning and I found fantastic new opportunities that I would have missed if I hadn’t been pushed onto a different path.