A Level Results Day - Dos and Don'ts

As A Level results day looms, there's bound to be teenagers with their brains flying everywhere at this very moment. If you're one of them - take it easy, it's not the end of the world. You've probably heard everyone say that lately but you won't realise it's true until soon after you get the dreaded results. In fact, there's a few pieces of advice you'll probably ignore in your hysteria, and nobody would blame you, but here's my list of DOs and DON'Ts, so at least I can say I told you so!

DO feel proud of your achievements. You've spent the last two years working towards these grades, so pat yourself on the back for surviving them. They're a lot harder than GCSEs and some would say they're even harder than the work you get at university, so well done you!

DO remember to breathe. It's easy to forget the most natural bodily function when you're freaking out about results. 

DO resit a year if you need to. If you missed out on the grades you wanted, there's no stigma attached to resitting a year to ensure you get the most out of your education. Perhaps some of your friends are resitting too? 

DO thank your teachers, tutors and lecturers. I regret this the most, I just never went up to the staff and thanked them for their help during the most challenging two years of my life. 

DO make the most of the summer. Now you know what university you're going to, make the most of it. Plan trips to see your family and friends, research the city and see what's in store, make a budget plan. I didn't even know where my university was until induction day, I'd had my heart set on staying in the city yet had no idea where I'd be studying for the next three years.

DO enjoy the time before uni. This will be the last few weeks before you're bombarded with ridiculous deadlines, freshers flu and new faces you'll probably never remember the names to. Go out, enjoy the sun while it's still there, there ain't no sun in the library on deadline day.

DO look to the future. Do your results apply to your career plan? Do you want to work straight after college? Do you want to go to university? Clearing is still an option if you're interested, but you don't have to go to university just because you've applied to them already. Anything's possible, results day is a day for change, but it doesn't necessarily have to be bad change.

DON'T compare your results with your friends. That's the last thing you want to do. It's your results, not theirs. 

DON'T panic. If you didn't get the grades for your firm choice university, it's not the end of the world, that's why you were asked to choose an insurance choice.

DON'T blame yourself. If your results aren't what you expected, there's very little you can do about it now, so don't allow yourself to go through the 'what if's'.

DON'T just drop your friends. Speaking from experience, results day is a very traumatic and life-changing time and friends can easily lose their way when they're wrapped up in their own problems. Once all the stress and decision-making is over, make sure to reassure your friends that your friendships are still there and that you won't let university come between you. I lost every single one of my college friends the moment university came calling for this very reason, so don't forget to prioritise your mates too. They're just as stressed as you are. 

DON'T put too much value on a piece of paper. Some may say that the rest of your life is defined by this moment, but it doesn't have to be that way. These are just letters on a piece of paper. Plenty of people make it through life without good exam results - academia isn't the end of the world for everyone. 

DON'T get big-headed. Congratulations on your great results and all, but nobody likes a show off. Try and remain down to earth, especially when you're surrounded by friends who may not have done so well. You can brag your socks off when you get home. 

DON'T get too intimidated by university. You know the freshers flu, nameless faces and deadlines I just mentioned? It might sound scary but once you're there, you'll be wondering why you were so frightened. Most universities feel like a glorified sixth form college. If your campus is intimidatingly large, spread out over five miles with the odd field and stray cow in between, then consider it a challenge that you can, and will, overcome.

So that's my advice! If any of it has sunk in while you're panicking what letters will appear on that paper on the day, then I hope it's helped you in some way. If there's anything else you want to know about college, university or the big wide world beyond education, I wouldn't call myself an expert but I'm more than happy to help, so feel free to drop me a tweet!