Deputy Sam Mézec
Current job: States Member, Deputy of St Helier, chairman of the political party Reform Jersey.
Age: 26
GCSE school: Hautlieu.
When I was 16, I wanted to be: A lawyer.
For my GCSEs I studied: Maths (A), science (B), English literature (B), English language (B), French (B), history (B), music (B), drama (B), religious studies (C).
How important have your GCSE results been in your life?
Not at all. What has mattered more have been the skills I’ve picked up along the way and how I’ve learnt to apply them to what really matters to me.
How did you celebrate results day?
My friends and I rented a bouncy castle – you’re never too old for a bouncy castle – and had a big barbecue with some heavy metal music blaring.
My defining memory from taking my GCSEs was: My sheer shock at having got a pass in my religious studies GCSE when I didn’t revise for it at all.
What advice would you give to those getting their results today?
GCSEs aren’t the be all and end all. It’s great if you do well, but if you don’t get the grades you wanted, don’t be too disheartened. At 16 years old, you have so many opportunities ahead of you which you can make the most of if you’re prepared to put the work in and are determined to reach your potential. Always make the most out of what you achieve, but never write off your life chances just because of an exam result.
What, do you think, is the key to being successful?
Learn what motivates and inspires you and use it to drive you every day to achieve the best you can. Whether your aspiration is to get a job you love, to earn a lot of money or to do something which you think helps make the world or your community a better place, if you are clear in what you want to achieve in life, you’ll find it much easier to plan how to get there.
Robert Macrae
Current job: Her Majesty’s Attorney General.
Age: 49
GCSE school: Victoria College.
When I was 16, I wanted to be: Doctor Who. Anything but a lawyer…
For my GCSEs I studied: English language, English literature, history, geography, religious education, French, French for business, physics, chemistry, biology an maths. I got mainly As and some Bs.
How important have your GCSE results been in your life?
As my children, who are all pre-GCSE age, may be reading this – very important.
How did you celebrate results day?
After I opened the envelope it was a blur.
My defining memory from taking my GCSEs: I had terrible hay-fever and sneezed the whole way through…
What advice would you give to those getting their results today?
Don’t be put off if you don’t get what you want.
What, do you think, is the key to being successful?
Don’t give up.
Evangeline ‘Evie’ Rose Bertram
Current job: Miss Battle, student and sales assistant at Anna Trigg.
Age: 18
GCSE school: Beaulieu.
When I was 16, I wanted to be: An actress or costume designer.
For my GCSEs I studied: Textiles (A*), drama (A), home economics (A), English literature (A), English language (B), English media (B) , English (B), maths (B), science (B), French (C), ICT (C), religious studies (B).
How important have your GCSE results been in your life?
Fairly important. They were important to me because I was not expecting the grades I achieved. Additionally they gave me a good foundation for A-level choices.
How did you celebrate results day?
I remember celebrating with my immediate family the night before as we were in France. We went out for a lovely meal. I then met my friends the next evening on results day and we went to a party.
My defining memory from taking my GCSEs: Students hyping each other up beforehand outside the exam room and trying to cram last pieces of information in.
What advice would you give to those getting their results today?
Just relax. At the end of the day, they are pieces of paper that allow you to progress further, they don’t inhibit you. If you have achieved what you hoped for, or more, celebrate. If you haven’t, celebrate anyway.
What, do you think, is the key to being successful?
For me, being successful is when I feel I have achieved balance. Where I have worked hard in my studies, my job, extra-curricular activities and seen my family and friends.
Lauren Burnett
Current job: Director of clothing firm Luella Rockerfella.
Age: 33
GCSE school: Les Quennevais and Dunfermeline High School in Scotland.
When I was 16, I wanted to be: An actress, in Big Brother, a model and do little work for a lot of money. Oh to be young and unrealistic again.
For my GCSEs I studied: I didn’t sit my GCSEs. I eventually went and did the equivalent in Scotland but cannot even tell you what results I got as I don’t remember. I always thought I was thick as I have never been academically clever but as I travelled, picked up another language and excelled in other areas I started to believe that I was smart in other areas.
How important have your GCSE results been in your life?
Not important at all. In every job interview I went to I sold myself and my ambition rather than my academic achievements. Being a nice, kind, trustworthy and authentic human being with integrity is what future employees are looking for as most training can be done on the job.
How did you celebrate results day?
I didn’t.
My defining memory from taking my GCSEs: I fell asleep during one exam because I knew I didn’t know a lot of the answers. I am a mother now and the attitude I had at that point was a reflection of what was going on in my personal life. I would never promote being a drop-out. As Rod Stewart said: ‘I wish I knew what I know now, when I was younger.’
What advice would you give to those getting their results today?
If you don’t get what you are looking for, there are always other routes to get you where you want to be. If a dream seems too big or unachievable, it’s not.
If your dreams and ambitions do not scare you then they are not big enough. If you don’t know what line of work you want to excel in yet don’t worry, it will come to you.
What, do you think, is the key to being successful?
Never give up. Just because you may not get what you expected or needed to get to the next step there are always other routes. Sometimes in life your results have no reflection on who you are as a person and how much grit you have to succeed.
Calli De La Haye
Current job: Co-founder of Kalimukti Yoga
Age: 32
GCSE school: Le Rocquier School
When I was 16, I wanted to be: A criminologist
For my GCSEs I studied: PE A*, maths A, double science AA, history A, French B, English language B, English literature B, graphic design B
How important have your GCSE results been in your life? Having good grades in my GCSEs enabled me to have full access to study A Levels and to go on to study psychology at university. This gave me a solid foundation for my career path in human resources before launching Kalimukti Yoga and following my dream.
How did you celebrate results day? I went out with my friends for a mega beach party
My defining memory from taking my GCSEs is: I will always remember the feeling of coming out of that final exam – what a relief. I threw away all of my books and never wanted to see them again.
What advice would you give to those getting their results today? Whatever results you get, stay true to what you want to do, it’s your life, enjoy it.
What, do you think, is the key to being successful? Work in a role that is aligned with your strengths and values
Catherine Curtis
Current job: Founder of brand BabyHub, inventor and product director
Age: 53
GSCE school: FCJ Convent.
When I was 16, I wanted to be: An artist.
For my GCSEs I studied: I studied for ten O levels and got nine grades A to C.
How important have your GCSE results been in your life? Not important.
How did you celebrate results day? I didn’t celebrate at all. I was annoyed that I hadn’t got my chemistry O level.
My defining memory from taking my GCSEs is: I enjoyed taking exams. It was lovely to sit down in a quiet room with no distractions and write.
What advice would you give to those getting their results today? Don’t worry, learning is a lifelong experience. I didn’t study for a degree until I was in my 30s.
What, do you think, is the key to being successful? Hard work and focus.
