My heart went out to Scotland’s pupils opening exam results this week.
For many it was the most nerve-racking moment in their lives so far. I still remember clear as day waiting for that envelope to drop on my doormat.
However, it seems the hard work has paid off. More than 24,000 Scots have secured a Scottish university place and there were a record 156,000 Higher passes this year up 5.5% on 2014.
Universities Scotland director Alistair Sim said it was “a great day for Scottish education”.
However, in a parallel universe not so far away, you would have been forgiven for thinking that some kind of Higher results apocalypse was set to happen.
Labour leader hopeful Kezia Dugdale repeatedly preached that the results were a “coming storm” to the media and at First Minister’s Questions.
Thankfully, it was not. It was misjudged to solicit fear about our education system when young folks are in the middle of their exams. It’s a scary enough time without politicking.
However, Ms Dugdale continued to dig a hole for herself with her tweet on exam results day: “Chuffed for every single young person in Scotland who has passed their exams only sorry that @scotgov made your life so much harder.”
Which could be translated as: “I really wanted things to go wrong but they didn’t, so I’ve still squeezed in a grievance regardless.”
Sometimes you just need to hold your hands up and admit when you are wrong. People often think better of you for it.
Back to the pupils for those who didn’t get the results you hoped for, please don’t despair. There are still university places available through clearing.
And it’s not just about Highers there are different paths such as Skills for Work or National Progression Awards. Since 2011, some 101,000 people in Scotland have started a Modern Apprenticeship, most of them aged 16 to 24.
It’s a good time to be starting out, with a record percentage of school leavers in employment, education or training.
So congratulations again to Scotland’s students.