Let's hear it from the Class of 2012

From celebrating your results to making the right decisions about what course to pursue, the next few days and weeks are crucial - but you're not alone. Here, some leaving cert students in exactly your situation outline their experience so far

Profile 1: Conor Scully From Portmarnock Former school Sutton Park School

The Leaving Cert didn't go amazingly well, but it wasn't too bad either. English paper two was tough but unlike the rest of the world I messed up on the comparative studies section, not poetry. The absence of Plath suited me fine. Maths was also tough. Economics and history were probably my best. I am tentatively confident I'll get enough for my course. I'm hoping to do philosophy, politics, economics and sociology in Trinity. I want to do a course that's quite broad. I'm not really sure what I want to do after college.

The recession seems to be affecting everyone these days. It has impacted my choice of study I suppose. I wanted to do film studies but everyone encouraged me to do something that's a little more sought after by employers! We'll see whether that strategy works out. I think I'm keeping my options open. I think I've a job lined up for when we get home. Hope so anyway. I'll work for the rest of the summer and then it's off to the Electric Picnic - hopefully there'll be lots of celebrating.

SIXTY-SECOND UPDATE

Five songs that remind me of schoolAnything from the Little Shop of Horrors soundtrack (I played the dentist in our school production in fifth year), Call Me Maybe and 212 because they were everywhere this year. Bang Bang Bang by Mark Ronson (heard it a few weeks ago and can't stop listening to it), What'll I Do by Lisa Hannigan (love her).

Best school memoryEither taking part in the musical in fifth year or our graduation night in May.

Worst school memoryI got sick in March and missed four weeks of school. It was so stressful trying to catch up with all the stuff I missed.

Favourite filmLost in Translation

Favourite bookHoles by Louis Sachar

Best apps/websitesTemple Run, Scrabble, Plane Finder (can't stop).

If you could go on a night out with five famous people, who would you choose and where would you go?Derren Brown, Meryl Streep, Lena Dunham, Joanna Newsom and Peggy Olson (I don't care if she's fictional). We'd go to a karaoke bar.

Profile 2: Laura Ray From Roscommon Former school Athlone Community College

I'VE WANTED to be a teacher for ages. You know when you've an ideal job in mind when you're a child? Mine was primary school teaching. Then in fifth year I really decided that it was what I wanted to aim for.

Apart from the Plath disaster, the Leaving Cert went better than I thought it would. English paper two was not pretty though. I remember I was sitting beside a friend of mine, we opened the paper and we just looked at each other in horror. Luckily I had looked over Larkin just in case Plath didn't come up.

I'm reasonably confident that I'll get my points. I'm aiming for primary school teaching in St Pats so hopefully I've done enough. I'm actually working in the autism unit in my local primary school at the moment. I did it last year as well and I really love it. The long-term plan is to do a Masters in special needs education with a view to working in this field.