Gareth O'Callaghan: I took the Leaving Cert again last week. Here's what I learned

After years of saying he'd do anything in the world rather than repeat the Leaving Cert, Gareth O'Callaghan takes on English Paper 1

Gareth O'Callaghan sitting English Higher Level Paper 1. 'All my concerns were quickly dismissed. If anything, I could have written for hours.'

I was away sitting the Leaving Cert last week. Actually that’s not entirely true. I sat English Higher Level Paper 1, but not in an official capacity. Call it curiosity, or a challenge. Or maybe there was something more regressive somewhere in that mind space labelled ‘unfinished business’.

I was restless the night before “the exam”, much like the first time. My wife acted as invigilator, careful not to allow me to see the paper which she had downloaded until the morning. Then as I placed a mug of strong coffee beside me, I exchanged my phone for the questions and a bundle of blank A4-lined pages and a pen.