The leaving cert: A test for the whole family

THE Leaving Cert has always had the capacity to send stress levels soaring, but more so today, says Naoise Kavanagh, of Reach Out, an online service to help young people get through tough times.

“A lot of negativity is being projected onto young people. They’re hearing 30% of under-25s are unemployed, emigration is a huge issue, and parents are losing jobs when they’re putting kids through college. There’s a bit of ‘what’s the point?’ It’s quite bleak for students.”

In the run-up to exams, parents need to be stress-busters for the family. Remain calm and avoid ‘infecting’ your child with worries you may have about the exam or their future. “A big cause of conflict is the amount of time the student puts into study. Telling your child ‘it might be a bit late now’ or ‘take it easy’ isn’t very helpful,” says Kavanagh.