It's that moment no-one who has ever sat an exam will forget – the pulse-quickening blend of excitement and trepidation that precedes the opening of the envelope containing the long-awaited yet dreaded results. Today, thousands of pupils across the UAE will be experiencing that moment, which for many represents the most significant milestone in their life to date. Spare a thought as well for the parents, waiting anxiously alongside their offspring and hoping that all those years of schooling, extracurricular activities and endless nagging and encouragement have been distilled into the handful of grades that are the key to the next chapter in their child's life. For some, there will be relief, followed by celebrations and the pleasing sense of certainty that their immediate future is secure. For others, there will be disappointment, followed by parental consolation and frantic plan-B scheming.
They should not despair. If their heart is set on a specific career path and university, failure to secure the necessary grades means nothing more disastrous than resits next year. And if they are flexible about the future, considering alternative study courses or career paths could open up new opportunities. Those whose results have come up short of expectations might also take comfort in the knowledge that among the ranks of those who failed to make the grade at school are the likes of Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Albert Einstein. Most importantly, however, all students should bear in mind that in a few short years, results that today seem like a matter of life or death will have been forgotten – it's what you go on to do in the world that will define who you are.
This is an exciting time to be embarking on the journey of a lifetime. Technical innovations such as artificial intelligence and robotics are already altering the working landscape beyond recognition and no-one, not even the most dedicated careers counsellor, really has any idea what opportunities the future might bring. So whatever your envelope contained, congratulations on having come this far. The future holds much promise, however you choose to define it.
