I say this every year, but #AlevelResultsDay is the absolute worst. I am 28 years old with a PhD and I still have nightmares about it (yo, in therapy). I got BBB in Chemistry, Biology and Maths, and sobbed for the entire day because I didn't get into my first choice Uni.

The amount of pressure on you to get the right letters written on a piece of paper is unreasonable. A levels are the most difficult assessments I've ever experienced, largely because the marking schemes are so narrow and specific that *even* if you're correct, you can be wrong.

If your results were not what you wanted or expected today, allow yourself to wallow for a bit, but tomorrow, get to work on where you want to be. If you want to go to Uni, take a space you might not *really* want, your experience will be what you make it.

10 years on from my horrendous experience, and I'm working at the Uni I sobbed about going to (sorry @aberdeenuni ). If I hadn't taken the place I wouldn't have found a career I love, I wouldn't have met my partner, and I wouldn't have met my best friend. Take the pressure off.