“Reading was always a big part of my life, even when I was having a hard time with school. My younger sister has that love of reading too – I can already see how smart she is!
College was not on my mind at all at 15. I didn’t have the best experience in secondary school, and I missed a lot of days. Things got worse in third year. I could feel I wasn’t well, and we found out I had developed a heart condition that needed surgery. It was a lot; it meant I missed all of my Junior Cert exams. On top of the days I’d already lost, it put me on the back foot.
After everything, I wanted to leave school altogether. I could see other lads from the Traveller community were leaving school too, and at first I didn’t really see a reason to stay. It was my mam who wouldn’t let me give it up, and I’m thankful to her for taking that stand. Our school guidance counsellor had a major influence on me sticking with it as well. He was one of the few teachers who believed in me, and he encouraged me to consider applying for PLC courses and following that route to college.
I started really trying for the Leaving Certificate, and I was able to get a place on a Level 5 course, People, Culture and Heritage Studies in Killester College of Further Education. It was a struggle at first. I didn’t really know how to study, or where to start with assignments. That first year didn’t go well – but in the end, something clicked. I finally graduated with one of the highest grades in my class, and that was a real validation.
“To go from missing school and not knowing how to do the work to actually being really good at something – it felt amazing. It meant I could apply for my place here in DCU.”
I’m going into my third year now, studying Religious Education and History. Once I realised I could make it to university, I knew I wanted to use this opportunity to help other students like me. I want to be a teacher, and I want to be the kind of teacher my guidance counsellor was: someone who will do things a bit differently, who’ll encourage Traveller students and other young people who aren’t expecting themselves to stay in education to really see it as an option.
I’ve learned so much over the last two years, from scriptural studies to the history of early twentieth century Ireland. This year, I’m really enjoying our Renaissance history class, it sort of brings together the two sides of my degree in really interesting ways.
It isn’t just what we learn in class and on teaching placement though; I’ve gained a lot of confidence here too. Last year, I put myself forward as Class Representative and that was a great experience. I’m an introverted person, so being elected by my class and getting to represent them really helped me.
“The support of the Access Programme has made a real difference to me. The financial scholarship means I can afford the books and supplies I need to keep doing well in college – and I’d rely on the scholarship and what I earn working part-time to keep a lot of the worry off financially.”
The Access Orientation in first year was a really good experience too. It meant we got to know the campus early and got to meet other students. We could ask whatever questions we might not have the answers to at home.
“I was the first in my family to go to university, and I can already see the influence that’s had on my younger sister. She wants to be an English teacher at the moment, and I think seeing how I got here will make that path easier for her to follow.”
