I did my leaving certificate 10 years ago. I didn’t even think of third-level at the time, it wasn’t something that even popped into my mind.
I did a PLC first in the Liberties in youth and community care and when I finished, I kind of just fell into a career in childcare then. I did a Level 6 in an online open college too.
After about five years, I realised I wasn’t fulfilled; a career in childcare just wasn’t for me.
Thankfully, I had siblings who built their career after having kids so that was in the back of my mind, that I could change my career path later in life.
That’s when I thought about third-level for the first time. I met with the career guidance in the local Solas office and we discussed my interests and my options. Literally, the next day, I was registered for the UCD access programme, because the deadline was straight away and I didn’t want to miss out. It happened so quickly.
The access programme was great. It’s kind of like a one year preparation course, you learn skills on how to write an essay and things like that. It suited me because it meant I could still work my full-time job. It was only two days a week.
It also meant when I went into the undergraduate course, I had all of the skillsets I needed to succeed, things like writing essays, or even just the way they taught was different from school.
It gave me a feel for the campus. A lot of the time when you’re starting college, people talk to you about having imposter syndrome that that first year really helped. I think I really would have struggled if I hadn’t done that year first.
I am a first generation student. The access programme showed me there were other routes. I thought childcare was just going to be where I ended up and that I couldn’t change my path; it was only when I pushed myself that I realised I could do other things.
After that year I applied through the CAO and got a place on the law and social justice course in UCD .I’m now going into my final year.
It’s interesting, because I always wanted to work in a job where I could help other people. Originally I thought I would do social science but this course has the best of both worlds. I really enjoy it. I can advocate for people who are like me, who maybe come from different backgrounds, or people from minority groups.
A lot of people who work in law, they already come from the legal background or have connections, or their family works in it. It’s nice that this gives an opportunity from people of different backgrounds to get involved and be represented.
In terms of my career, I’m still kind of figuring out what I want to do long term. I’m thinking of doing a Master’s degree, because now I have a taste for academia, but I’m still deciding.
I’m glad I did things the way I did, and spent time in childcare first, because if I didn’t, I feel like I wouldn’t have the life experience that I have now. The experience definitely helped me during the course, it adds perspective.
I never would have thought I'd be here. It's crazy to think that 10 years later, I'm thriving in a completely different field. I would encourage people to change career if they want to, to find something that fulfills them. You don't need to stick with what you did when you left school. - Shauna Bowers
