with Katie Frearson

After weeks of agonising anticipation, the exam results for GCSEs and A Levels are finally out.

It's amazing the mix of emotions that are shown in just a few minutes as you youngsters scrutinise your results papers and then frantically look around to compare achievements.

I remember it all vividly - severe lack of sleep for days leading up to the big 'moment', extreme stress, worry of letting your family and teachers down..I could go on, but I won't because you all know exactly what I'm talking about. The 'moment' is here. The 'moment' is now.

Your whole future hangs in the balance - or so you think. Looking back now, that's what I thought, but today's a different story.

Despite not getting the exact grades I needed and not being able to go to the university of my first choice, I now believe that was a blessing in disguise. Fate almost.

If I had, I know I would not be doing this job now which I thoroughly enjoy and is the career I want to do.

I picked myself up, looked at my options, took a year out to get my life sorted and then went to university to study a different subject to what I had originally intended to do. In fact, it was the subject I'd done amazingly well in at A Level. Believe me, it was the best thing I could have done.

I had the time of my life at university, loved my course - English Literature - and came out with a top class degree qualification. That was what led to a two-year stay teaching English in Tokyo, Japan, and entrance onto a brilliant journalism course.

But I know none of this probably helps how you feel right now.

But, believe me when I say: "It's not the end of your world. It's the beginning.'

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.