Results Release

Today is A level results release day.

The cohort did not do well at all. Drop in percentage pass and quality grades across almost all subjects. Was so disappointing, the management did not share individual subject performance at all, and simply announced the identity of the few top students we had. I think P must have flipped in his office.

I was of course very disappointed the whole morning and early afternoon. Hugely deflated over the poor performance, slightly worried over what people may think and say, and dividedly lost as to whether to return for the official results release.

Was persuaded against, but eventually decided to go back and am very glad it was the right decision. Colleagues (save for one or two) and students were all very welcoming, and nobody tried to make anybody feel small/bad. The exchanges came easily and sincerely, and I guess this suggests that I had not been a detestable tyrant during the teaching/headship years. Those who mattered, still cared; and those who didn't, remained polite.

My classes did average. There were some unexpected performers, but also a couple of unpredicted slips. It was painful watching some of them shed tears of fear and regrets when, just 2 metres away, their friends were locked in ecstatic embraces of joy and relief.

For that few moments, I was reminded once again that school is really a place teeming with life and raw emotions. The office, on the other hand, can be just a place with lifeless albeit efficient computers powered by the on/off switches.

At the end of the day, I was worried about, but also comforted by, humans.