St Joseph’s Boys’ School Principal, Mrs. Ciara Deane, urged students to remember that results day is only one moment in a much longer journey, and that not getting the grades you hoped for does not close the door on future success and that everyone has their own path to follow.

Speaking to students who might not have got the results they expected, Mrs. Deane said: “I call those students my VIPs because that’s really the ethos of St Joseph’s, it’s about resilience, it’s about bouncing back. There isn’t one person on the planet who hasn’t failed, and it isn’t even failure. Children and young people set such high expectations for themselves now. Not everybody can be an A, and you often find those young people do much better because they come back stronger, and that’s what it’s all about.

“We don’t always get what we want, but we come back and we have a plan. Sometimes life has a funny way of putting you in another direction. Maybe the things you wanted aren’t for you. Give it a couple of hours, there is always another pathway.”

Recalling her own results, Principal Deane said she remembers the day “vividly.”

St. Joseph's Principal Mrs. Ciara Deane congratulating Michael McLaughlin on his results on Thursday morning. On left is his dad Mickey. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)

placeholder image — St. Joseph's Principal Mrs. Ciara Deane congratulating Michael McLaughlin on his results on Thursday morning. On left is his dad Mickey. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)

“I’m a past pupil of St Cecilia’s College. I wouldn’t have been burning the midnight oil, I wanted to be an actress. I remember it being bittersweet; we always have those expectations. But I got there through learning a lot. I’ve always invested in the boys. Focus on yourself, everybody is unique and different. Follow your own path.”