The countdown to the Leaving Cert is on, and the struggle is real. We've teamed up with the good folks at the Waterford Institute of Technology to bring you 12 WhatsApp messages every Leaving Cert student will receive this year. 1. "Candle lit for you." From your Mum on the day of the aurals, orals, the first day of exams and any other day she's just a bit worried about you. 2. 'Be grand.' From the friend trying to cheer you up. It probably won't, but sure look. 3. 'The timetable is up.' The absolute horror of it. It makes the whole thing real, and it's actually worse than anyone could have predicted. 4. 'Nothing done, need to get off Snapchat.' If a tree falls in a wood, and it's not on Snapchat, did it really happen? The answer is no. 5. 'There should be a Leaving Cert subject about Snapchat.' If it hasn't been done already, somebody needs to start a national petition on this one. Department of Education, hear us roar. A1's for everyone. 6. 'If the Leaving Cert was about Making A Murderer, I’d get 625 points no problem.'  From your Netflix-obsessed friend. Sample question from English Paper Two: "In 400 words or less, discuss the likelihood of Steven Avery's innocence...." 7. 'U OK hun?' From a friend when you run out of one of the Mock exams early. There was no sign of Plath, Yeats or Bishop on the paper, so you just weren't having any of it. Time to re-think the poet choices. Again. 8. 'I actually don't know anything for Paper Two.' It's comforting to know someone else is in the same position as yourself. There's a certain safety in numbers when it comes to being screwed for one of the most important exams of your life. 9. 'Cramming two years of work into 3 weeks.' Same. New Leaving Cert motto should be: "Keep calm and stay cramming." (Until there's nothing left to cram.) 10. 'Might just watch The King's Speech again.' Colin Firth is an absolute hero. There's a lot of love out there for Mr Darcy. What an inspiring, uplifting story with a fantastic supporting cast. 11. 'So sick of watching The King's Speech.' Never want to see Colin Firth's stupid, bumbling face on a screen again. Can't believe this crap won an Oscar. 12. 'I know nothing.' Literally, nothing. Filling out your CAO this week? Check out the 70 courses on offer at the Waterford Institue of Technology. With 500 employer links, 10,000 students, 60 clubs and societies and €140 million research funding there are a world of possibilities at WIT. Join the live CAO Q&A on 27 and 28 February from 3-5pm at www.wit.ie/cao.