“I need a coffee” were the first words to be spoken once my mother arrived back from the meeting! I’m not (yet) a psychologist but I knew that instant that things didn’t go well! We sat down and after much poking and prodding I managed to get her talking about how the meeting went.
She looked visibly upset as she was telling me that every single teacher that herself and my father saw told them the exact same thing; “Adam is capable of much much more but he isn’t putting in the effort”. Hearing every teacher say the same things over and over must have been a real disheartening experience for her. All throughout my life she has put my education first! She struggled and I mean struggled to send me to a good primary school after it was found that I just didn’t cope well in environments with a lot of children and needed the extra attention that only a private school could offer. So for 7 years, my mother sacrificed almost everything to keep me there and this is how I repay her - a poor report and a depressing parent teacher meeting.
It was at this moment that I put everything into perspective. Far too much blood, sweat and tears have been put into my education for me to just throw it all away because of work or the computer. I’ve now realised that what car I’ll be driving in 20 years time, how big my house is and how beautiful my wife is will all be decided within the next year and if that, coupled with the realisation of the pain I have caused my family isn’t enough motivation then there’s no hope for me!
With my mother finishing her coffee, the conversation ended. There was no mention of any truancy, however my parents did request to see my year tutor in a month’s time to discuss my performance between now and then. Maybe he’ll spring it upon them then but thankfully for now I’m off the hook. My mother just wouldn’t have been able to cope with learning that and for her own sanity, I hope he never tells her!
Uh oh, right boyo, time to knuckle down. U know what you have to do and there is time between now and the exams, so as I say to my daughter, shine for God’s sake.
And knock the trauncy in the head. Here’s hoping the teacher says nothing. Anyway once you knuckle down the only thing that could be said is that you were but you are not now and there is a massive improvement in his work. That’ll be the overriding thing.
You can do a lot in a month, but you know that yourself.
I do sympathise with your mum, in the column which is printed on Thursday and I’ll link this to it, cos it is interesting to see both sides of the situation, I neglected to say how in the first PTM I went too, I nearly cried at one point during the Maths teachers bit and she nearly hugged me. I felt like a broken woman walking around that hall.
It is devastating to see your smart child underperform, when you know they could be capable of anything.
If I could I would do it for my daughter, but unfortunately I can’t. it would be a lot easier.
Jaysus I have gone into real mummy mode, but you seem like a really smart fella, and I love the site. Now its time for you to make sure you have lots and lots of good choices.
Best of luck Adam.
Hi Adam,
While I do think it’s great that the results of this PTM have inspired you to knuckle down and be more motivated (which is always good!), I felt that I have to tell you that you are wrong about the ‘whole life being decided within next year’ thing! Seriously, and I know your parents would flip out if they read this, but the Leaving is not actually that big a deal! Not that i’m saying don’t study… obviously do study… but I think you should know it’s not as important as everyone makes it out to be! While I do think education is very important I don’t think you should get too stressed out and think your life is going to be over if you don’t do well. In my last year of school I didn’t push myself, and although I did regret it I later went back to college anyway and now I’m doing a PHD. So trust me the Leaving is not the ‘be all and end all’!