This month, so far, has been really quite exciting for me. I bought myself a swanky new monitor and Playstation 3, so that was nice, but, of course, results day was the big factor. Will I? Won’t I? Will I just curl up into a ball and vanish if I don’t make the grade? There was only one way to find out. This was the day I’ve been waiting for for almost 2 months now. The day that would decide what I’d be doing for the next 3 years; so really quite important really.  I stopped over at my friend’s house as we’d gone out to Snobs in Birmingham on Wednesday night because I’d figured I’d sleep better if I was a little drunk. That plan worked, so that’s a tip to remember next time you’re shitting bricks about something (driving test anyone?).

We arrived at college just before 10 and went in to get the fabled white envelope. Annoyingly, my results had been held back because I hadn’t returned some tatty 1000 year old book I’d borrowed from the library. After promising to bring it in later, they lowered the guns, unlocked the chains and released my results into my shaking, sweaty hands. I promptly ripped it open and a slip of paper fell out that basically said that I should feel free to speak to a member of staff if my results weren’t as I hoped. My stomach did somewhat drop at this because, with prior knowledge of the AS results last year, they only put those in for people who don’t make the grade. So, more nervous than ever, I got my results out and tried to make out my grades from the mess that is the result slip (Seriously, who designs these things? Especially Edexel, it’s a disgrace!) I read through and felt a surge of relief. I’d got ABB and a B in General Studies. Now, my offer was AAB so I needed to get on UCAS to check. After throwing a slightly dirty look and my Geography teacher (he was a muppet) I got into the computer room and got myself on UCAS. Typically, my login didn’t work so I had to get the IT technician to get me online. I don’t think he appreciated how forceful I was being with him, but I went on the basis that I’d most likely never see him again so it was okay. So, I typed in my application number… my username… my password… clicked login.

I let out a little scream which invited some really quite annoyed looks from some (perhaps they’d been rejected?) but I didn’t care. Smiling like a Cheshire cat, I rung my parents to tell them I’d been accepted into Manchester University. As they answered, I burst into tears. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so relieved in my entire life. The feeling of knowing the past two years of work were worth every single minute was euphoric. I then went on to phone the endless list of names I’d agglomerated over the past month, promising to tell them how I’d got on. I had to cut them off quite quickly though because I couldn’t speak through my tears and somewhat worryingly staggered breathing. Once my friends calmed me down (alas, out of a group of some 8 girlfriends, I was the only one in tears) I headed home. And that was that really, I’d done it.

That was my aim for the past two years and it was done. Even as I write now, it feels so strange. In just a matter of weeks my whole life is going to change completely. I’ll be moving out, leaving my parents, having to deal with a long distance relationship, cook for myself (dear God, I’ll just be living on pasta for the next three years at this rate. And perhaps the odd batch of noodles), and, of course, budgeting. But while I do feel quite scared at the prospect, it’s also incredibly invigorating. It’s going to be amazing, and I can’t wait for it all to start.

To everyone who got A-level results today, I hope they were what you needed to get you where you wanted to go (and commiserations to those who are awaiting decisions from Oxford and Cambridge, that must be fun.) If you didn’t get into where you wanted, I hope you’ve found a solution that works for you.

Here’s to the next step.