Whether you are recovering from exam stress on a beach in Ibiza or about to set off for your local school in trepidation, this morning's results should give you a huge and well deserved boost.
After months of strikes, rumours about the exams being delayed, and some very challenging papers, the class of 2001 has shown its ability to soar above it all.
In almost all subjects, significant rises in grades have been recorded. Even papers which attracted bitter comment from students in June - such as French and English - have delivered good grades.
Who, in June or during the deep despair of the ASTI dispute after Christmas, would have predicted that almost one in 10 higher-level English students would gain an A grade? Or that one-fifth of those doing higher level maths would also get an A? Very few indeed.
Immediate attention turns to what this means for college entry. Crudely, it will probably mean a rise in points. This is because grades are up in the main subjects, which means the majority of students will benefit and more points than last year will be needed to get onto courses.
Observers of the CAO system were almost certain about this yesterday, but it is impossible to say what impact the results will have on individual courses. If the points go up as expected, students' chances this year should still be no worse than last year because they have the improved grades to help them.
However, some students may look at last year's points chart and conclude that with their improved grades, getting their top preference should be a formality.
But with points rising, last year's charts would be largely irrelevant and if a student's points are rising so will the points of others. But always remember, three-quarters of those getting a college degree offer secure one of their top three options.
The notable increases in honours grades in popular subjects such as English and maths will have the most impact. For example, many students need an honour in higher-level maths to get a place on a specific course, for example engineering.
With 80 per cent gaining an honour in higher-level maths (compared to 74 per cent last year) the numbers eligible for engineering will rise and thus the cut-off points will have to go up too. This is the downside of grade improvements.
However, fewer students put engineering/technology courses on their lists this year, so this should curb any large jump in the points.
The science results are also interesting because students need them for high points courses such as medicine and pharmacy. Honours in higher-level physics fell from 72.4 per cent to 66 per cent, while the number of honours grades rose for chemistry to 75 per cent, from 73 per cent last year. So those who are weak in physics may be punished, whereas the rising tide could lift the majority of those doing chemistry.
Away from the top-points courses, other students could find themselves squeezed out of the system. Maths is needed for many courses and this normally means getting a D3 or higher in the ordinary level paper. Last year almost 13 per cent failed to reach this level but, alarmingly, this has risen to almost 17 per cent this year. This group will find it hard to get onto a course unless they try one of the private colleges.
One private college said yesterday that the CAO system needed to be reviewed. Mr Ronan Fenelon, director of Griffith College, Dublin, asked: "Is this annual treadmill of intense study and huge pressure on students really the proper way to prepare them for the workplace or further education?"
He added: "In the run-up to the mock and then full leaving certificate exams, thousands of students are putting in working weeks that would be legally prohibited by EU labour laws."
However the reality is with bumper results this week, the pressure to change the system will lessen rather than grow.
The Minister for Education, Dr Woods, last night noted the increased honours grades and complimented students and teachers on their hard work.
The next big day is Tuesday, when the CAO will try to match the good news contained in today's results.