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’!

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.