Education: Panic stations Many 18-year-olds awaiting A-level results are facing the most stressful time of their lives. But even those who are disappointed need not give up hope. Manjinder Kang, who flunked her exams last year, explains

• Published in: The Guardian (London)
• Main Author: Kang, Manjinder
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Manchester (UK) Guardian News & Media Limited 16.08.1994
• ISSN: 0261-3077

She first opened the envelope from UCCA. Disbelief spread across her face. `Oh no,' she said in barely a whisper, `it's a clearing form.' The significance of that remark took time to sink in, bringing a rush of disbelief, confusion and despair. `What about my results?' I said, vainly hoping the clearing form had been a mistake. I watched my sister's face as she opened the envelope, hoping the disbelief would change to relief, only to see her expression intensify. `You've failed,' she said. `You've passed your English, you got a C. But, I'm sorry, you got an N in economics.' The pain was excruciating; unlike anything I had ever felt before. After all the work I had put in, I only had a C and two Ns. Perhaps what hurt most was thinking of the very low offer I had been made; two Es. It had been inconceivable not to get that. I was totally unprepared. I had been hurled from a situation of certainty and stability into one of insecurity and what seemed hopelessness. Frantically I began searching through newspapers for any course that appealed to me. It soon became apparent that I was not going to get on to a degree anywhere, as I had not reached even the minimum entry requirement for most universities. I had to become flexible in considering my options. The best was to take an HND and then transfer to the second year of an appropriate degree. However, most HND places required at least eight points; I had only six.