20th August 2011

The A-level results were due out on Thursday, but earlier in the week, Sarah began receiving details about her Sheffield course, along with a polite demand to confirm her accommodation choice and complete her medical forms. Sue and I scratched our heads. Why spend good money on postage and paper when the students hadn’t even received their grades yet? For all they knew, she could have flunked the lot!

At 7 a.m. on Thursday, I was wrenched from a deep and noble sleep by Sarah standing at my bedside, eyes shining, announcing that she was off to university. Given that Robert Smythe School doesn’t hand out results until 10 a.m., I was sceptical. Had I dreamt it? Or had she? Switching on the radio, I heard the BBC reporting a computer glitch that had left students uncertain whether they had a university place or not.

By the time I staggered into the kitchen, Sue and Sarah were at breakfast, and the story unfolded. At around 6 a.m., Sarah’s friends began texting her to say that the UCAS website was up and revealing who had a place, and where. She dashed online and discovered she had a confirmed spot at Sheffield. Moments later, the system crashed. (“Wasn’t me!” she insists.) Being a bit of a Luddite, I decided to reserve judgement until the school confirmed it. Sure enough, at 10 a.m. Sarah collected her grades and proved it was all true. Sociology and Psychology could now officially “get stuffed”! As for Geography, I expect I’ll find her revision notes handy on my travels.

Sarah marked the occasion that evening by pulling pints at the Rugby Club, earning funds for her university adventures. She worked again on Friday night, all weekend, and then on Sunday ran a car boot stall with Sue to sell her surplus clothes. (“Too many,” she claims, for once, I couldn’t argue.) The takings went straight into her fast-growing university money pot.

Ever the organiser, she insisted I complete all the forms (and write all the cheques), which are now en route to the relevant university and government departments. With her driving test looming, she’s booked the lessons and even has a Plan A and Plan B depending on the result. Nan was overjoyed and is already planning more lunches with her granddaughter, I suspect, for the conversation as much as the company.

It’s always a pleasure to share good news, and Sarah has given us the very best kind. Two years of focus, graft, and sheer determination have paid off; our Sarah is going to university! We’re all incredibly proud. Her confident, positive attitude, despite more than a few disruptions along the way, has been inspiring. It’s true what they say: you get what you deserve in life. Well done, Sarah.

Her term-time address will be: The Pinnacles, Sheffield.