My nervous wait for results

Laurie, a pupil at Pontllanfraith Comprehensive School in Caerphilly county borough, describes her delight at achieving two A*s, four As and two Bs at GCSE.

I took eight GCSEs and needed at least six Cs with all Bs in sciences in order for me to do the courses I want to in college.

I was shocked when I discovered my grades. I didn't think I'd achieve the grades that I have.

My mum and dad are really surprised. They are really impressed with me.

LAURIE'S GCSE RESULTS Biology A Chemistry A History A Maths A* PE B Physics A* Spanish A English B

I can now go to college to do A levels in biology, chemistry, physics and PE or psychology.

In the long term, my plan is to have my own physiotherapy clinic, I've always wanted to do it.

I eventually want to go to Cardiff or Bristol University to study physiotherapy.

While I was in hospital I was given a laptop computer. It meant I could get on with my school work.

But quite a lot of the time I didn't feel like doing any work.

People ask me why I kept going. If I had stayed behind a year, I would have been going to college on my own and I wouldn't know anyone, so I just wanted to be the same as everyone else, I didn't want to be treated differently.

Lots of people have helped me and I wouldn't have done it without their help.

I had a tutor who came to see me in hospital and at home and my next-door neighbour is a biology teacher so if I got stuck on that she'd come over and help.

My sister's friend's father is a maths teacher. He used to come over on Sunday to do maths with me.

My English teacher and my Spanish teacher from school would come and help me as well.

I couldn't have finished my exams or got these grades without all the help and support they gave me.

I did go back to school, it was difficult at first, people didn't want to come up and talk to me because they were worried about upsetting me, but after a while it was fine.

It did feel a bit strange, but I didn't want to be away from my friends.

So how am I going to celebrate? Well tonight I'm going out with my friends who all did well with their results.

And my dad promised me money according to the grades I got so now he owes me �450! I'm going to spend it on a big shopping trip.