Yes, the title to this post is cliche but it is the word on everyone's lips at the moment. After a gruelling 4 week exam diet, I can finally say that I am free. As well as being happy for myself I'm also delighted for the people that sat those exams alongside me because I know what they have been going through for the last couple of months - really pleased for everyone. I'm also happy that they're done for my parent's sake as well. I don't think I'll ever quite grasp what it's like for them when I've got exams but I think they go through the wringer as well. Not only do I spent a lot of time being anxious and hard on myself (which I know they don't like), they also just want me to do well and to be successful. They never put pressure on me in any way but it is the pressure that I place on myself to do well that is the biggest thing for me - I don't just want to do well for myself, I want to do well for them as well.
I don't think I was quite expecting to feel quite as happy as I did when I set my pen down for the last time yesterday. A smile stretched across my face that couldn't be wiped away by anything and I sat for 5 minutes just soaking up the sheer elation as my exam period ticked towards its eventual conclusion. Looking around the exam hall yesterday, I saw different stories unfolding. Some people left the exam at the soonest possible juncture (I think the pressure got to some people yesterday) and some looked as composed as I've ever seen them. We've all waited for so long for the end of probably what will be the hardest exam diet of our lives (certainly in terms of the length and the volume of material) and, as I've already said, I'm delighted that all of my friends and peers are out of the other end with me.
So what now? Well first and foremost I'm still trying to shift a hangover from last night's celebrations but there are few better cures that having such a weight lifted off of my shoulders. Then of course it is summer and I'm really not sure what that will hold. I'm going to try and find a project to get my teeth into so as that I don't get bored and under people's feet at home. I've got 4 months to do literally anything I want and that is such a nice feeling - so many possibilities. My life over the last 2 months has been consumed by something that I have grown to love (the law, not exams!) but I think it's time to take a step back and give myself a break and do other things. Then maybe I'll start to get myself ready for next year towards the end of the summer. A little break from the law will do me no harm and will probably make starting next year even more exciting than it already is - yes, I'm excited about 3rd year already!
A sentiment that I've dropped into the few posts that I wrote over the exam period was one of good luck and success during the exam period for everyone. That sentiment has finally matured and now I can say congratulations to everyone for getting through to the other side, no matter how hard things were at times. I feel privileged to learn alongside some super people and so for them I wish a relaxing and prosperous summer. You all deserve it, now go and put your feet up!
Thanks for reading and, by the way, I'm back again!
Martin
