RTÉ news2day’s Mícheál Ó Scannáil: I walked out of higher level chemistry after 30 minutes

Mícheál Ó Scannáil is a presenter and reporter on RTÉ's flagship news programme for children news2day. He sat his Leaving Cert at Gorey Community School in 2015.

What is your most vivid Leaving Cert memory?

Before my chemistry exam, I asked the exam invigilator if I could drop down to pass. One of the girls I was friends with in front of me turned around and said: “Ah, MOS, you’re well able for honours don’t bottle it”. All of the class then started encouraging me, telling me how able I was for honours and I felt like a champ... ‘Right so,’ I said, ‘Give me honours’. The whole class, including the invigilator were giggling when I walked out after 30mins without being able to answer a question.

Who was your most influential teacher and why?

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I had a teacher for construction called Charlie Lyons who really shaped me and some of my classmates as men. He was the kind of person you don’t meet without taking a bit of him with you. He helped us all get good results in his subject, but he also taught us a bit of maturity and respect. He was the one who convinced me I’d be a good journalist after I had been told otherwise by a guidance counsellor. Also, I had a maths crash course with our vice-principal Frank Duke – a legend of schools rugby – about a week before the exams, without which I would have 100 per cent failed my Leaving and had to repeat.

[ Examwatch 2022: Reaction to the Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert exams ]

What was your most difficult subject?

Chemistry.

And your favourite?

English for the creative writing, Irish for the language, construction for the craic after school.

Can you recall what grades / points you got?

495 points

What did you go on to do after secondary school?

I was a journalist for the Irish Independent then presenter of RTÉ news2day. I start as a reporter with Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1 at the end of June.

What would you change about the Leaving Cert?

Take pressure off the kids, let them enjoy themselves while they’re young, it’s crazy how stressed 17-year-olds are being made. Have more project-based work. Disincentivise learning intelligence and incentivise general capability. Do away with the CAO and have a general year at college in first year, where students can decide where they want to go in life and students who didn’t perform as well in sixth year have a chance to do more to catch-up on points.

What advice would you give to your Leaving Cert self?

Shoot for the stars. Don’t let anyone tell you what your ceiling is. If you want to be an astronaut, or a neuroscientist, or a journalist, you’ll find a way. Enjoy yourself; those months are the best time of your life. Stand up for yourself and for other people who could do with some help.