Róisín Sheeran
Attending the Cultural and Heritage Course at the National Print Museum
proved to be a huge boon for me, not least because it put me on the road to
becoming a student at Trinity College.
I was already developing an interest in Local History before starting at the
Print Museum and the course further developed this interest. When three
former students, who had gone on to attend Trinity from N.P.M., visited our
class and told of their experiences, I realised there was a chance for me to
attend Trinity as a mature student. Also, I didn’t have to be thrown in at the
deep end, starting off in first year as an overwhelmed Fresher – there was an
opportunity to start off with a Foundation Course, which would further develop
my academic writing and other skills I might need. My options were not
confined to Trinity alone, I could also apply to Pearse College or Whitehall.
I had my heart set on Trinity and with a great deal of preparation, under the
guidance of my tutors at the N.P.M., I was successful in my application to the
Trinity Access Programme. Through T.A.P. I was able to experiment with a
number of subjects including Maths, Philosophy, History and English. Having
successfully graduated from T.A.P. I was able to start an English and History
combined course, as a Trinity first year.
Some say youth is wasted on the young and some might put forward that
sometimes education is also. I had actually attended U.C.D. after leaving
school in the last century but I never got beyond first year and it was a great
bonus to have a second chance and to be able to attend college because I
really wanted to learn this time, rather than becoming a student because I
didn’t know what else to do. I am entering fourth year now and next year I am
majoring in English. My biggest module will be to write a 10,000 word
creative writing, non-fiction piece under the auspices of irish writer, Deirdre
Madden. I have always written poetry and fiction, but another world of writing
has opened up to me through attending Trinity. I have become more rigorous
in my practice, more articulate in my arguments and my social circle has been
extended. I have made friends with young students and those of my own age
group and older. Attending college has broadened my horizons in many ways
and helped me develop my way of thinking.
I think it is important to study what you feel most passionate about. This does
not make your studies effortless, but regardless of your marks, what you
actually learn and how much you enjoy expanding your mind can be the most
important thing.
I would highly recommend going to college either for the first or second time
if you can. In T.A.P. it was explained to us we were becoming part of the one
per cent – not the one per cent that holds the bulk of global wealth, but the one
per cent of the world population who have been afforded the opportunity to
avail of third level education and work towards a degree. That is a form of
wealth and it is a sobering thought. It brought home to me how fortunate it
was for us excitable students to be able to exploit our chance. So grab the
chance if it appeals to you in any way at all.
(If you feel you don’t need to do a Foundation Course you can also apply to
become a first year student directly. Catherine who was on my N.P.M. course
went straight to U.C.D. and took a degree in Irish Folklore. Having completed
T.A.P. some of my fellow students also applied to other colleges such as
Maynooth and Pearse College.)
