A big congratulation to everyone getting your GCSE results today. It’s been my habit to write something specifically linked to results day each year. Quite often, like others, I’ve taken time to make the point that results aren’t everything, that this isn’t the one day in your life that settles everything. Ironically, I’ve been saying that usually as the number of top grades has increased. Perhaps in that context, where it would have felt even more devastating to get disappointing grades, that was the most important message.
This year, however, we are expecting to see a reduction in grades. This is the first year of GCSE results when we are completely out of the system employed during the pandemic. However, this doesn’t alter the fact that most of you getting your grades experienced significant disruption through that period. It may be helpful to take a deep breath before you open your results and remind yourself of that context. Don’t compare your grades with the results of older siblings, they were assessed differently. Don’t be distracted by curmudgeonly middle aged people like me grumbling about how we think it was harder in our day. We aren’t in a position to assess things and like a premier league giant, you can only play the opposition in front of you anyway. A win is a win.
Then celebrate. I don’t think we say this often enough. Accomplishment is meant to be enjoyed. Too often, the attempt to correct expectations can unnecessarily snuff out joy. Today is a day to relax and enjoy the recognition of your hard work, skill and ability.
This also means that you will want to share the joy of others celebrating their success. This is particularly important when we realise that some friends have done better than us. There’ll always be someone out there who has done better at something than you and that’s okay. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice.
Exam results are not meaningless. They may not tell you everything, there may be a whole host of other skills and abilities that weren’t measured in your exams. Don’t forget that important point. However, they do say something. They do indicate where people have particular gifts and talents. Don’t look at your results negatively as telling you what you can’t do. See what they tell you about what you can do, especially with the benefit of teaching, training and coaching. These results may help you to consider what you want to focus on next.
If we rejoice with those who rejoice then we mourn with those who mourn. Some people will be disappointed. They won’t have got the grades they hoped for. We don’t just want to pretend that the grades don’t mean anything because that doesn’t give true hope and it ends up demeaning their efforts and their feelings. It’s okay to be disappointed, it’s okay to be sad and shed some tears. If that’s you, then don’t struggle on your own. Find someone to be with, someone who maybe isn’t going to try and fix the problems now, certainly not someone who will give a glib answer. Find someone who will be there with you to weep with you.
In time, you’ll want to process those results. It may be that you will realise that you could have done better. Maybe, you will think that the mark was unfair, check with your school about remarking options. You may be disappointed with yourself, perhaps you did not work as hard as you should have, maybe you made a glaring mistake or perhaps things didn’t just click on the day. You will be able to learn from this disappointment. This is where it is important to remember that the results today are not going to determine your life plans for ever. It may just be that the particular subject wasn’t one of your strong points. At GCSE’s you haven’t been able to specialise yet, you’ll be able to focus on areas where you are stronger, where your natural gifting lies as you progress through education and work.
Give thanks to God. In our celebrations we can forget him. It’s important to remember that he is sovereign today. This means that even your disappointments are a good gift from him. He will use them for your good and his glory.
Pray. You will be making some decisions and taking some next steps. It’s important that as you step into he future that you seek God’s guidance and follow his will.
Faithroots 