Education

RTÉ's ‘Múinteoir John’ on the Leaving Cert: ‘There are always other options if you don’t get your first choice’

John Sharpson says his teachers put in a huge effort to ‘drag students over the finish line’

John Sharpson, RTE presenter.

Wed Jun 15 2022 - 14:57

John Sharpson, also known as “Múinteoir John” from RTÉ's Home School Hub, presents ‘Ireland’s Future is Mine’ on RTÉjr. He sat his Leaving Cert in Scoil Chaitríona in 2006.

What is your most vivid Leaving Cert memory?

I remember getting out of the chair and walking out of the hall for the last time after finishing my final exam. I had been looking forward to that moment for a while beforehand. What a feeling!

Who was your most influential teacher and why?

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There were so many of them that put in a trojan effort to drag us over the finish line and make sure we had the best chance to get a good result. I’m extremely grateful to every teacher I’ve ever had.

What was your most difficult subject?

Biology. We had a fantastic teacher (Máistir Ó Treasaigh) and, even though we didn’t always see eye to eye, he tried his best for me. It just didn’t click!

And your favourite?

I actually loved English and French. I loved the fact that French was very useful when abroad, so I was inspired to put effort into learning it.

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Can you recall what points you got?

I practically failed my mock exams so I put in a solid few months’ work and ended up getting 420 points (10 per cent of the points I didn’t get because I sat the exams through Irish). Even though I didn’t get the A1 in Irish I was after, ultimately, I was very happy with the results. It’s never too late to cram!

What did you do after the secondary school?

I actually got my second CAO choice so went and did a BA degree in St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. I then went studying in London for a year to get my teaching degree. As I mentioned, there are always other options if you don’t get your first choice.

What would you change about the Leaving Cert?

I think the continuous assessment would have been beneficial to me as a student. I think I would have consistently worked a little harder but they’ve introducing that element, so i’m pleased about that.

What advice would you give to your Leaving Cert self?

You should have worked harder! Ha! No, I would actually sit myself down and say: “Give it your best shot, that’s all you can do. No matter what the outcome, we’ll figure it out and it’ll be okay.”

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