Imogen Clark

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • News!
  • Blog
  • Contact

The Class of 2020

Blog

21 Mar

Well, what strange times we are suddenly living in. I am fortunate enough that all my friends and family are currently well, I have food in my cupboards and a job that won’t stop paying me because of Coronavirus. I am feeling very privileged right now.

Photo by Jasmin Sessler on Unsplash

But all is not completely rosy chez moi. Whilst I can do as I’m told, stay away from public places, not stock-pile food and other necessities and exercise social distancing because I am an adult and I have the wisdom accumulated over five decades on the planet, it’s still hard to deal with. Our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary falls over Easter and my husband and I had a special trip planned, now cancelled of course. We were due to attend the wedding of our friends’ daughter, the first such event for us. And we had tickets for a variety of shows over the next few weeks that have all now been postponed.

And it’s a bummer. I was looking forward to every one of those events and I am very sad that they have now all vanished from my diary. But I will get over it. Worse things happen at sea and all that.

But it’s different for my children . . .

It is far harder, I think, for the younger members of our community to take all this in their stride. My youngest was due to take his CGSE exams this summer. There will now be no exams. He will be given a grade, we gather, based on his performance over the whole of the two year course which, we are assured, will fairly reflect his achievement.

In many ways, being judged over a longer period rather than on his performance on an arbitrary day in June is likely to be more representative of his ability. Yet, that’s not how he sees it. Not at all. He has been gearing up to these exams for his whole life. The UK school system is about testing pretty much from day one. The entire curriculum is focused around the end result and even if you resent every minute spent at school, you can’t help but come out with the idea that the final exams are the be all and end all of it.

And now that has gone. I heard one of his friends say that they felt their results would be forever tainted, as if the Class of 2020 didn’t really have to work for what they were given and therefore theirs would be somehow less valuable than results obtained in other years. He feels that he will never be robustly tested, will be robbed of the chance to prove how he can think under pressure. He is also undertaking intensive training to become a ballet dancer, spending almost as much time training as he does in school. Secretly, I imagine that he was hoping to prove himself capable in more ways than one.

There are many others who this will hit hard, as well – those due to be taking A levels are also in the crossfire and another of my children is due to sit University Finals this summer too, something that is, as yet, still shrouded in mystery.

The list of things that are important to our children and yet cancelled and never to be replaced goes on – sporting events trained hard for, shows that will never hit the stage, and smaller, but no less important, things like the rituals associated with the last day of school, the Year 11 prom, all those photos and silly videos that my other children have of their special times which my son will not.

it makes me want to cry . . .

and in fact, yesterday I did just that, in the street, prompted by nothing in particular except the huge weight of disappointment that hangs heavy over my children right now when usually they are tightly cocooned in a sparkling veil of excitement and positivity.

I have told them that they will look back over this time and be telling the tales for years to come. Only they are the #classof2020 having to deal with these extraordinary circumstances (or at least I hope it will just be them.) But right now, I’m not sure that that is helping much. I am left just holding them tightly as they cry and agreeing with them that it’s not fair, that everything is completely crap and that I totally understand ( although I can’t understand entirely – it’s not my pain after all.)

I have no doubt that most of the Class of 2020 will bounce back, they are resilient, they will get used to what has happened and it will become their new normal. And in time, it will become a story to dine out on for years to come.

But right now my heart is breaking for every last one of them xxxx

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

6 Comments

Previous Post: « And the winner is . . .
Next Post: How it feels to publish a book »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Claire says

    21/03/2020 at 3:01 pm

    My heart is breaking for every last one of them too Imogen. It’s not how it was meant to be for the class of 2020, so many disappointments to dealing with. Such an emotional time for them all. Keep safe all of you, love us x

    Reply
    • Imogen Clark says

      21/03/2020 at 3:18 pm

      I know. They will be stronger as a result but that’s not much help right now.
      Imogen x

      Reply
  2. Charles Coussens says

    22/03/2020 at 7:19 am

    According to the announcement I heard, if a student isn’t happy with the outcome of their “exam” results they will have the opportunity to actually take it, whenever the world settles down into whatever it becomes. That might help those who feel cheated. Problem right now is concentration. I’m doing an OCA creative writing degree and many students on our Facebook page say they are so worried about the disease, about loved ones, about obtaining food, that they can’t concentrate enough to create an alternative world – the world we used to know. My partner, 30 years younger than me, is doing an OU degree, and can’t even pick up the book to read, he’s so worried.
    Nothing to do with that, but how wonderful that one of your sons is training to become a ballet dancer. All credit to him. That news in itself has lifted my day.

    Reply
    • Imogen Clark says

      22/03/2020 at 2:41 pm

      Yes, I heard that too about having the chance to sit the exam at some point. We’ll see how he feels. He is part of the Advanced Training cohort at Northern Ballet and goes there four nights a week, all day Saturday and most school holidays. He’s a bit lost without it.
      Concentration seems to be a problem for lots of writers right now – so you’re not alone. I have a former OU friend (I did an English Degree with the OU recently) who is also doing the OCA course. She’s enjoying it ( apart from all the reflective commentaries!) Good luck!
      Imogen.

      Reply
  3. Anne says

    30/07/2020 at 4:25 pm

    I wholeheartedly agree. We should have had GCSEs and A levels this year! GCSE age son doesn’t seem particularly bothered about not doing exams but has secured a place at college to do his chosen A level courses. Daughter however whose university place now depends on these teacher-assessed grades feels like her ability to control her own destiny has been ripped away from her.
    Like Olympic athletes, many kids plan their work, revision and effort to hit their peak at the right time – exam season, May/June. Having finished school and college with a couple of days’ notice in March, they didn’t get a chance to reach that peak. No prom, no leavers’ assembly… I’m gutted for them all. At least we’re all well, safe and together. Hope all goes well for your children and ha the class of 2020 get what they deserve.

    Reply
  4. Imogen Clark says

    14/08/2020 at 10:50 am

    Hi Anne
    They will look back on being the Class of 2020 and hopefully it will all look like it was a bit of an adventure that sets them apart from other years. I have my fingers firmly crossed.

    Kind regards,

    Imogen.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hi there. Thank you for visiting my website. I am an internationally bestselling author of book club fiction. Please have a look round for details of my books and my blog. If you want to hear about new releases and giveaways then why not sign up for my Newsletter? It's lovely to see you here. Imogen. Read More…

Please sign up to my newsletter

Recent Posts

  • Where do your ideas come from?
  • School’s out!
  • Inclement weather
  • Wassail wassail.
  • Procrastination
In August 2018, when I was 52 years old, my first In August 2018, when I was 52 years old, my first book was published by @amazonpublishing. It was a dream come true and I count my lucky stars every day that I am able to make a career out of the thing I love to do the most. 

If you’re writing books and hoping for something to happen then please don’t ever give up. You never know what might be waiting for you just around the corner. 😊

#writerslife #writersofinstagram #writershelpingwriters #dreambig #nevergiveuponyourdreams #bestsellingauthor #lakeunionpublishing #authorsofinstagram #authors #authorsofig #750000 #imogenclark
Bit grim outside but these beautiful roses make th Bit grim outside but these beautiful roses make things brighter in my writing room. 😊. #writerslife #inmyofficetoday #pinkroses #sopretty😍
Do you have a favourite child? That was my start Do you have a favourite child? 

That was my starting point when I wrote THE THING ABOUT CLARE, a book about being the favourite and the least favourite of a group of siblings.

According to a survey that I unearthed as part of my research, a whopping 70% or parents would admit to having a fave child. Fascinating stuff eh? What do you reckon? 

#whattoreadnext #whattoread #nextgreatread #nextread #bookclub #bookclubofinstagram #bookclubs #bookclubsofinstagram #bookclubselection #favoritechild #favoritechildren #favouritechild #favouritechildren  #siblingslove  #siblingrivalry
Snow and blue skies. How lucky are we? 😊 Snow and blue skies. How lucky are we? 😊
His and hers morning coffee. 😊 #morningroutine His and hers morning coffee. 😊 #morningroutine #coffee #marriedlife
Snowy day here. Snowy day here.
Here be dragons! 🐉 I loved the idea that they Here be dragons! 🐉

I loved the idea that they used to put that on the edges of old maps on parts of the world that we hadn’t yet discovered. The unmapped parts were unknown. There could be anything there and the map-makers denoted that with dragons. (I know that it’s been debunked but it’s what I was taught at school!) 

Using dragons suggests that what was unknown was scary (although I prefer to think that the unknown is exciting not frightening. ) 

Fiction can show us the dragons but also help us to see ways to overcome them. That’s what Neil Gaiman is telling us in this quote. But maybe we shouldn’t be afraid of the dragons in the first place....? 😉

#bookquote #bookquoteoftheday #bookstagram #booklover #writerslife #authorsofinstagram #author #dragonsofinstagram #snowday2020
So, in case you’re new around here this is my li So, in case you’re new around here this is my little blog. ( imogenclark.com - link in bio) I started writing it in 2008 in a hopeless attempt to keep up with my kids (then 12,11, 6 and 4) who were racing ahead of me in terms of technology. I never did catch up 😜 but my blog slowly led to me being braver with my writing, took me through a distance learning degree in English literature, through a pseudonym (who still sells books every day) and a foray into self publishing and finally to a career as a full time novelist. 

It doesn’t get quite as much of my attention as it once did but I’m still inordinately fond of it. And I posted yesterday. 😊 Go have a look in a quiet moment and if you want to know more about stuff then dig back to the early posts 😉 

#newblogpost #newblogpostalert #newblogposts #myblog #writerslife #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #elizabethgilbert #bigmagicbook #bigmagic #ideas #wheredoideascomefrom #imogenclark #authorsofinstagram #authorshelpingauthors #author
Jane Austen just makes me smile. 😄 Even though Jane Austen just makes me smile. 😄 Even though she was writing hundreds of years ago, her observations are just as relevant today as I assume they were then. 

I wonder which of today’s writers will have that kind of longevity. Any suggestions? 

#bookquotes #janeaustenquote #booklovers #bookloversofinstagram #bookworms #writerslife #writersofinstagram #imogenclark
Cheers your heart, doesn’t it? Something bright Cheers your heart, doesn’t it? Something bright and colourful and trumpeting the arrival of Spring.  #thistowillpass #daffodilseason #inmykitchentoday #keepsmiling😊💕
Saturday morning. 😊 Cups of tea and books in b Saturday morning. 😊

Cups of tea and books in bed.... might be the perfect way to spend it but sadly I’ve left all my housework until today so my day is looking less enticing. 🙄🧹🧼🧺. 
How about you? What’s on the cards at your house? 

#saturdaymorning #itstheweekend #wishihadahouseelf
My first book has recently hit 250,000 copies sold My first book has recently hit 250,000 copies sold. It is a kindle store number 1 bestseller and holds a very special in place in my heart. ❤️
Here’s the blurb in case you’re interested. 😉
A secret lies buried at the heart of her family—but it can’t stay hidden forever.
When Cara stumbles across a stash of old postcards in the attic, their contents make her question everything she thought she knew.
The story she pieces together is confusing and unsettling, and appears to have been patched over with lies. But who can tell her the truth? With her father sinking into Alzheimer’s and her brother reluctant to help, it seems Cara will never find the answers to her questions. One thing is clear, though: someone knows more than they’re letting on.
Torn between loyalty to her family and dread of what she might find, Cara digs into the early years of her parents’ troubled marriage, hunting down long-lost relatives who might help unravel the mystery. But the picture that begins to emerge is not at all the one she’d expected—because as she soon discovers, lies have a habit of multiplying . . .

#postcards #bestsellingauthor #bestsellingbooks #bestsellingbook #bestseller #kindlebooks #kindleunlimited #kindlereads #kindlebooks #whattoreadnext #nextgreatread #bookclubofinstagram
Follow on Instagram
  • Privacy policy
  • Data removal request

Copyright Imogen Clark © 2021

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.