Chemical reaction to frustrating bureaucracy

Exam diary:Hormones got in my way today. Those biology short questions were a real test. I couldn't give two examples of the function of the hormone FSH. Messing up my biology paper was the only function I could think of. I actually enjoyed the rest of the paper, despite the fact that my blood was boiling after a letter I got this morning.

I applied to do medicine in a university in Poland (just in case things don't work out here), but the entrance exams fell on the same day as today's biology exam. Now without biology I can't do medicine, but without the entrance exams I can't get into Polish university. If I was an Irish student they would have to make arrangements for me, but since I am Polish, they will not.

My fight (or flight) hormones have been triggered. Have I ever been known to flee? My adrenal gland is going into overdrive.

So, instead of studying business for today's exam, I'm busy writing an angry letter to the European Court of Justice. How is a Polish student supposed to access the European education system if our universities won't help us? This is not the end of this particular matter, believe me.

I think that I will not post this letter until after my chemistry exam. I may not be able to take on the European justice system this week. Besides, I have a new career in media to concentrate on. My headmaster heard my name mentioned on the radio this morning and was very pleased. Perhaps I'll give up this whole medicine idea and go on into television. That would be funny, considering I haven't even got one.

Really though, it's strange to be told that you have become a little bit famous when you haven't got a TV or radio and no time to read the paper. This little bit famous Miroslawa is a stranger. I hope she's nice. Away from the spotlight and the European justice system, there is still the Leaving Cert. I have a very important chemistry exam next week, which may determine whether or not I get to be a doctor someday.

Unfortunately, I missed out on the first section of the course and I have had to teach myself. I believe that learning how to teach yourself is one of the most important skills. You won't always have a teacher on hand.

Now it's quite possible that I have misunderstood atomic chemistry and will be going into next week's exam with my own, original version of everything. Perhaps I'll fail; perhaps I've discovered something new and my chemistry paper will end up in a science museum next to Einstein's bowtie.