Adjusting to life with a new family after becoming orphaned and losing her home was a heartbreak Julia Pawlowska never expected to face before the Junior Cert exams.
However, just weeks later the teenager, who attends Coláiste Éamann Rís in Cork City, defied all odds to sit the State exams. On Wednesday, she celebrated a full circle moment after collecting her Junior Cert results.
The 15-year-old received a mix of merits and distinctions. She undertook the exams just weeks after she came home from a birthday party to find her mum deceased.
Julia’s dad had passed away a few years before that. The fact that Julia’s family home would now have to be reclaimed by the council came as an added blow.
Staff at Coláiste Éamann Rís had helped with funeral arrangements at the time, as Julia’s only living relatives reside in Poland.
She admitted to contemplating giving up on her studies after the tragedy. However, her principal Aaron Wolfe said she refused to miss a day of school.
The remarkable student dedicated her impressive results to her late parents. Julia, who has since been taken in by the family of another student, described her joy following a painful few months.
“I’m freaking out right now,” she told the .
“I don’t know what to say because I’m so in shock. It was definitely worth it in the end. I’m so glad that I kept going.”
The experience proved bitter-sweet for Juilia.
“When I was lying in bed last night thinking about getting my results I didn’t really feel any strong emotions. However, when I opened that envelope they all came out.
She had a special message for other youngsters going through similar difficulties.
“Sometimes it might feel like there is no way out, but there always is. As long as you keep going there is always a way out.”
She extended her gratitude to staff and pupils at Coláiste Éamann Rís.
“I want to thank them because I really needed that support. I never thought this would turn into what it has. The journey to get to the Junior Cert was so tough and that’s probably just as important to me as the results. Everybody has been so nice.”
