The Malta Independent on Sunday reached out to two students, nearing the end of Medical School, who had initially gotten stuck in their A levels, to hear the experience first-hand from their perspective.

Student 1

“When I didn’t get my A levels up to the standard required for medicine, it felt like my identity was falling apart. You go from this high achieving student, to feeling like a failure. I would tell people I failed when, in actual fact, I hadn’t failed the exams, I just didn’t get the chemistry mark I needed. But you feel like a failure because your identity is threatened.

My self-value depended on my grades, and so, my self-confidence took a massive hit. In the beginning it was hard to accept and I was overwhelmed with lot of emotions. I decided to repeat the year, and in that year the pandemic broke out so there was the question of whether we’d even sit for these exams again.

I reflected a lot on myself in my gap year. I realised my mentality was flawed and my worth was more than just an exam mark. I look back on that year and I can wholeheartedly say it was the best year of my life. I used to think that was a cliché but there is a lot one can learn from life experiences.

I wouldn’t change a single thing if I was given the opportunity. That year matured me and taught me valuable life lessons that bettered me as a person. So, to anyone who doesn’t get their required grades, please do not give up, it is not easy, but you will grow and you develop skills which will better you in your profession. Everything is temporary and your pain will pass too! And don’t let anything stop you from achieving your dreams!”

Student 2

“It’s the summer of 2019 and I am eagerly waiting for my A level results. The anticipation rapidly turns to heartbreak as I realise that I will not be able to enter medical school that following year.

The A level exams were always harped on to be one of the most important, if not the most important exams in one’s life, making it seem like the ultimate gateway to a successful future. I felt like a failure, to my teachers, to my parents, to my friends who managed to achieve their desired results, but most of all to myself. For me, entering another course was never an option and the only way forward was to repeat my exams the following year.

Thankfully, I did secure a spot with the following year’s medical students. If this experience has taught me anything, it would be that failure does not define us; it drives us forward. It pushes us to grow, to adapt, and to strive harder for our goals.

To anyone in a similar position, remember that setbacks are just setups for comebacks. Your worth is not determined by a single set of results, and although the journey may be tough, each step forward brings you closer to your dreams.”