Many students internalise the idea that their Leaving Cert results define them. The logic goes something like this:
- High points = success = future happiness.
- Low points = failure = a diminished future.
This belief system is so widespread that it becomes invisible, but it is not only psychologically harmful, it’s also existentially false.
Existential psychotherapy is based on the understanding that human beings are in a state of constant process. Who you are at 17 or 18 is not set in stone. You are not your grades. You are not your CAO form. You are not even the career you think you want. You are someone becoming, someone unfolding.
The entire Leaving Cert system rests on the false promise of certainty: that there is a straight path, that it’s possible to choose “correctly,” and that success is a matter of performance. But life isn’t a multiple-choice question.
Existential psychotherapy is based on the understanding that human beings are in a state of constant process. Who you are at 17 or 18 is not set in stone. You are not your grades. You are not your CAO form. You are not even the career you think you want. You are someone becoming, someone unfolding.
The entire Leaving Cert system rests on the false promise of certainty: that there is a straight path, that it’s possible to choose “correctly,” and that success is a matter of performance. But life isn’t a multiple-choice question.
Existential Anxiety vs. Exam Anxiety
Let’s be clear: anxiety around exams is normal. But, existential therapy makes a distinction between neurotic anxiety (caused by internalised pressures or distorted beliefs) and existential anxiety, the unavoidable discomfort of being alive and having to make choices.
If you’re feeling nervous about the future, unsure about your decisions, or overwhelmed by possibilities, that’s not a flaw. That’s healthy. It means you’re alive and thinking.
So, rather than trying to eliminate anxiety (which isn’t possible or even desirable), we need to learn how to live with it and use it as a signal, not an enemy. In existential therapy, we explore anxiety not as a symptom to treat but as a compass pointing to what matters.
If you’re feeling nervous about the future, unsure about your decisions, or overwhelmed by possibilities, that’s not a flaw. That’s healthy. It means you’re alive and thinking.
So, rather than trying to eliminate anxiety (which isn’t possible or even desirable), we need to learn how to live with it and use it as a signal, not an enemy. In existential therapy, we explore anxiety not as a symptom to treat but as a compass pointing to what matters.
Freedom, Choice, and Responsibility
One of the core ideas of existential psychotherapy is that one is free to choose, and this freedom can be both empowering and terrifying.
You may have been told that you must study a particular subject, pursue a specific course, or follow a career path that guarantees security. And some of those ideas have value. But you also have a right to question them.
Freedom doesn’t mean doing whatever you want. It means taking ownership of your choices.
If you hate maths but feel pressured to get a high grade because it “looks good,” ask yourself: Whose approval am I chasing? If you plan to study law because it’s seen as impressive but secretly want to be a filmmaker, that’s not just a career question; it’s a question of authenticity.
You may have been told that you must study a particular subject, pursue a specific course, or follow a career path that guarantees security. And some of those ideas have value. But you also have a right to question them.
Freedom doesn’t mean doing whatever you want. It means taking ownership of your choices.
If you hate maths but feel pressured to get a high grade because it “looks good,” ask yourself: Whose approval am I chasing? If you plan to study law because it’s seen as impressive but secretly want to be a filmmaker, that’s not just a career question; it’s a question of authenticity.
Isolation and the Pressure to Perform
A common experience for Leaving Cert students is a deep sense of isolation. You might feel like no one understands what you're going through. Or everyone is watching, judging, and waiting for you to succeed or fail.
This isolation can become existential. You might ask: Who am I if I’m not a high achiever? The funny one? The person expected to go far?
Existential therapy holds space for those questions. It reminds us that performance is not the same as identity. And it helps you make meaning amid uncertainty, not by escaping it, but by facing it.
This isolation can become existential. You might ask: Who am I if I’m not a high achiever? The funny one? The person expected to go far?
Existential therapy holds space for those questions. It reminds us that performance is not the same as identity. And it helps you make meaning amid uncertainty, not by escaping it, but by facing it.
Tips for Coping with Leaving Cert Stress, Existentially Speaking
Here are some grounded, therapeutic ways to survive and even grow during exam season:
1. Name the Meaning You’re Giving It
Ask yourself: What does the Leaving Cert mean to me right now? Does it symbolise worth? Safety? Control? Pride? Be honest. Then ask: Is that story helping me? Or hurting me?
Reframing meaning is a powerful existential tool. Instead of seeing exams as life-defining, try viewing them as one moment among many. It's a stepping stone, not a verdict.
2. Connect With Others Who Feel the Same
The feeling that “everyone else is coping better” is almost always false. Find safe people to talk to, such as classmates, friends, teachers, or therapists. Name your fears out loud.
Connection reduces existential isolation. Shared vulnerability is often more powerful than shared knowledge.
The feeling that “everyone else is coping better” is almost always false. Find safe people to talk to, such as classmates, friends, teachers, or therapists. Name your fears out loud.
Connection reduces existential isolation. Shared vulnerability is often more powerful than shared knowledge.
3. Don’t Confuse Outcome With Identity
A bad grade doesn’t make you a bad person. A missed point doesn’t cancel your potential.
Existential therapy reminds us that you are not the sum of your outcomes. You are a meaning-maker, a chooser, a person in motion.
A bad grade doesn’t make you a bad person. A missed point doesn’t cancel your potential.
Existential therapy reminds us that you are not the sum of your outcomes. You are a meaning-maker, a chooser, a person in motion.
4. Practice 'Good Enough'
Perfectionism is a shield against vulnerability. But it's also unsustainable and ultimately dehumanising. Try aiming for good enough instead. It’s a radical act in a system obsessed with excellence.
Ask: What would it look like if I did my best today and let that be enough?
Perfectionism is a shield against vulnerability. But it's also unsustainable and ultimately dehumanising. Try aiming for good enough instead. It’s a radical act in a system obsessed with excellence.
Ask: What would it look like if I did my best today and let that be enough?
5. Take Breaks That Mean Something
- Sit in nature
- Write in a journal
- Watch a film that moves you
- Talk to someone about something real
These aren’t distractions. They are reminders that life is still happening, even during the Leaving Cert.
6. Ask: Who Am I Becoming?
If you feel lost or uncertain, that’s not a sign of failure. It’s a doorway to self-awareness. Keep walking.
This question is scarier and more meaningful than “What points will I get?”It invites growth, not just results.
After the Exams: Freedom’s Strange Face
After finishing the Leaving Cert, one of the most surprising experiences is a strange kind of emptiness. You've been working toward this for years, and suddenly, it’s over.
This post-exam void is what Viktor Frankl referred to as the existential vacuum. When external structure disappears, you’re left facing the question: Now what?
It’s okay not to know. It’s OK to feel aimless for a while. Don’t rush to fill the silence. Use it to listen to your voice, the things that move you, and what you want (not just what you’re told to like).
This post-exam void is what Viktor Frankl referred to as the existential vacuum. When external structure disappears, you’re left facing the question: Now what?
It’s okay not to know. It’s OK to feel aimless for a while. Don’t rush to fill the silence. Use it to listen to your voice, the things that move you, and what you want (not just what you’re told to like).
What Schools and Adults Can Do Better
Not only students, but also our entire society, including schools, parents, and policymakers, need to reframe the Leaving Cert.
Here’s what an existentially aware education system might look like:
Here’s what an existentially aware education system might look like:
- Space for uncertainty — Students are encouraged to reflect, not just regurgitate.
- More honest conversations — Teachers and parents admit they don’t have all the answers.
- Celebration of many kinds of intelligence — Emotional, creative, relational, practical, not just academic.
- More flexibility in pathways — Room for gap years, alternative routes, and meandering careers.
- Mental health is embedded into the curriculum — not just a talk once a year but an ongoing conversation about meaning, identity, and the challenges of growing up.
There Is No One Right Path
If existential therapy teaches anything, it’s this: there is no single path to a meaningful life. And the paths that do unfold are rarely straight. The Leaving Cert might feel like a fork in the road, but you can build your road as you walk it. You’ll change your mind. You’ll lose things. You’ll find things you didn’t even know you needed. And through it all, your worth will not come from results but from how honestly you live. So take a breath. Face the fear. Name the pressure. Talk to someone. Go for a walk. Study when you can, rest when you must. And know this: the Leaving Cert is a chapter. But your story is much bigger.
If you’re a student or parent struggling with exam pressure and want support grounded in existential psychology, consider speaking to a therapist trained in these ideas. Meaning-making is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline.
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