Exam Diary: Delights of doing dishes

I HAD to wash dishes yesterday. I awoke and wandered down to the kitchen on the first day of my summer, to be met with a stack of dirty dishes.

Since Christmas, I had a free pass from housework. However, that expired at 5pm on Tuesday.

The joys of finishing the Leaving Cert are found in the small things. Being able to delete examinations.ie as a bookmark from your computer, or stowing away boxes marked 'School Books' in the attic is particularly satisfying.

However I could not totally relax, as in the back of my mind I felt as if I shouldn't be in front of the television, I should be studying. Then the light-bulb would switch -- I had none to do.

I realise that there are some students who are still beset by this spectre, but their day of independence will soon arrive, and the sun might decide to come out when everybody is finished up.

So due to the vagaries of the Irish educational system, my six-month sabbatical from housework has come to an end. I had to wash dishes today, and do you know what? It felt great.

Gavin Cooney is a student at Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon, Co Longford

- Gavin Cooney

Irish Independent