Meet Our Officers: Rob O'Donnell, Honorary President
Hi my name is Rob O'Donnell.I'm a second year Engineering with Management Student in Trinity College Dublin. I was also a student of the Abbey School, Tipperary. I'm from County Limerick originally. I was elected in 6th year and is on his second year of his term. I also previously held the roles of International Officer and Secretary, and now sit as the Honorary President with the Irish Second-Level Students' Union.
Meet Our Officers: Jane Hayes Nally, President
My name is Jane M Hayes-Nally, and I am a fifth year student from Loughaderra in County Cork. I was elected president of the Irish Second-Level Student Union last April, after my term as Education Officer during 2015/16. My love and motivation towards the Union has grown with every day I serve on the National Student Executive. I believe that with every student who discovers the work and aims of the union, the closer we become to realising our voices as students and advocating the changes that Irish students want.As president, you are given much responsibility and therefore much is expected from you. I try to motivate the people who I work with and the students I meet, in the hope that they will share my determination and passion for our cause. There are many things I look forward to working on this term, from student events to our Board of Management project, and I am delighted to be working alongside the most fantastic people. I hope by the end of the year, I will be proud of the work we have achieved.
Lead up to the Leaving Certificate Results (Part 2)
Student Engagement & Development Officer - Rebecca Dempsey
In the months leading up to the Leaving Cert, students turn to past students for advice. The CAO has been a topic of conversation within the ISSU office as a few officers have recently sat their exams. It’s a strange thing to look back on, as 6 years later I now have a better understanding of the system. It wasn’t until 6th year that it really hit me that I would have to make decisions for my future. College was the next step in life and I knew that that’s what I wanted but choosing a course, “the course”, was extremely difficult.Looking back, I honestly had no idea what I wanted to study. I had researched and shadowed a few people in their workplaces to gain some ideas but I really didn’t know. I enjoyed Physics and Geography in school but I really liked Maths, English and Business Studies. I found Irish and French difficult, but I knew that if I ever wanted to study Primary School Teaching I would need to do well in Irish. I made the decision to drop to Ordinary Level Maths and to keep Honour Level Irish. I couldn’t handle both at Honours Level and it was a good decision for me but if I could go back, I wouldn’t have made the same decision. I know now that I would have enjoyed learning Irish if I had reduced the stress that I had created around it. In hindsight I should have gone with my gut, instead of trying to keep up with my friends or to please others.I switched between so many courses, that in the end my CAO Application was a cocktail of different courses. It illustrated my interests, or what I thought my interests were and I pretended to be happy with that. I mentally compared my options to my friends when I should have taken the time to consider a course that I would actually enjoy. So after the change of mind period my CAO looked like this;
On the first round of offers in August, I was offered Science in DCU and Pharmacy Technician in AIT. I accepted DCU and that was where I was going. There was a big problem with this decision though and that was that I had no interest in studying science. I had it on my CAO because it was all I had a read about in the months leading up to the Leaving Cert. Science was spoke about as the best area to work in and that is where the jobs would be, or so people were saying at that time.I was unhappy with my decision but I thought that I didn’t have any other options. That was until my Mum sat me down and told me to read a column in The Irish Times which was written about CAO Vacant Places. I can remember her clearly saying, “Read this, and then read it again”. I had never heard of Vacant Places or how it worked and I was happily surprised to read about course vacancies and see that new courses were available. I spotted Mathematical Sciences in Dublin Institute of Technology and I knew that that was what I wanted to study. I always enjoyed maths and I was interested and keen to learn maths in a different environment. I decided on that course, updated my online CAO application and a week later I was offered a place. I now have a Bachelor of Science Honours in Mathematical Sciences and I know from my college experience that I want to teach second-level students in the future.My experience in college was extremely tough and at times I felt that my course was too difficult but I never gave up. I was lucky to have the option of undertaking work placement during my degree and I was fortunate to find my place and interest in student politics also. I've taken a lot more than just my degree out of DIT. A degree may be a piece of paper but it is an invaluable piece of paper that no one can change or take away from you. It is a fantastic feeling to graduate and to feel proud of your own achievements. I think everyone deserves the right to feel that way and there is an abundance of help available in college also, all you have to do is ask for it.If I could give my 17 year old self some advice, I would say to read as much information as possible when it comes to the CAO and to consider the Vacant Places option. Taking a year to work or repeating the leaving cert is an option too. I would tell myself to go with my gut instincts and believe in myself more. I didn’t know what I wanted to do at that age and I’m happy that I didn’t. I had to take a chance and I’m glad that I did. The CAO offers may seem daunting but there are routes and different options available. It can work out; take it from someone who has been through the process. The very best of luck to you all!Please note: Blog posts reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union.More information can be seen on the CAO website https://www.cao.ie/The ISSU advises students and parents to use the National Parents’ Council post-primary (NPCpp) free phone exam helpline (1800 265 165) to seek independent advice from qualified guidance counsellors. This will be available from 10 am 12th of August, more details will be shared next week.
Junior Cert Geography
Sophie - Higher Level
Today was the Geography exam. Geography was probably the only exam I haven’t been worrying about, because I got an A in the mocks. When we got the paper I went straight to the long questions and ticked which ones I could do. Then I did all the short questions. I didn’t know all the answers but I made a guess. I did the short questions super quick I was finished them in 15 minutes.Then I made my way onto the long questions. I did questions: 1, 3 and 5. The first question was about Rocks, about the formation of Basalt, oil exploitation and weathering. I knew this question and I was happy when it came up. I also did question 5 which was an ordnance survey map and aerial photograph question. My sketch of it was a little funny but the question is really easy. Question 3 was about population, I hadn’t studied population since Christmas but I still remembered everything. Overall the geography paper was pretty easy, and now can say I’ve another exam done and dusted and ready for week two of the exams.
Keela - Higher Level
Day 3. Geography.I went into the exam with a few nerves as before hand I looked over different topics as a quick revision and there was just so much to remember.I started off with the short questions. I found these easy. I answered all of them except for the glaciation questions as my class didn't cover that topic since it's optional. I thought they were a great way to get me in the zone for the long questions. The questions I was dreading.After a few short minutes , I was on to the long questions. I gave them a quick read to see what options there were. I started with the OS Maps and aerial photograph. I found this the best to start with as I knew I could get marks on this section. I thought the map of Dungarvan was quite easy to sketch as there wasn't to much coast line to draw and the features were easy to find and fill in. Also answering the questions on the OS Map and aerial photograph were quite easy as I found it easy to find the answers on the pages.I then answered question 1 on Rocks and Weathering. Even though it was all 1st year stuff I found it easy to remember as I read over them at the weekend. I especially like the question on Freeze Thaw Action as I got to draw diagrams to do with it.Finally I answered question 3 on Population Studies. I found these quite easy as the the graphs were clear and easy to read and also the work we did this year in school on population really helped. I found some of the answers were quite simple.Overall I was quite happy with how the exam went and how I did. After leaving the exam a few minutes early I found out that I was not the only one who found geography easy. Many people in my year were happy with what came up and think they will all do well, as do I .
Please note: blog posts reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union. Blogs are updated daily by 6.30 pm on scheduled examination dates.
2013 CAO offers
The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union would like to wish all students the very best of luck with their CAO applications today, however the ISSU urges all students to take time to asses your options.Most students are very apprehensive this morning as they consider their options carefully. Many have close to the same points, or slightly less than what their course was last year, they are extremely concerned that the points could rise and they will miss out.The Union has welcomed the overall increase in the numbers taking higher level Maths his year, however yet again we are cautious the success of ‘Project Maths’. The ISSU will publish a national student opinion survey on Project Maths in the coming weeks.Students are urged to take time to asses their options and consider their futures carefully. The NPCpp helpline is available on 1800 265 165 and further information is available from the ISSU website or by contacting the ISSU Team directly. We would like to remind students that if you do not get your first choice it is not the end of the world. There are many different routes into your course and you should seek advice if you are in this situation. It is recommended that you view all exam scripts should you have a concern about particular grades, and exhaust all efforts in getting where you want to be.
Well done on your results!
Congratualtions to the Class of 2013!
The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all examination candidates upon receiving their Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied results today. Speaking today, the ISSU Education Officer, Robert C. O’Donnell said;“Today will be the one of the most exciting times in your life, bringing to a close the results of 5 or 6 years of work from 1st year all the way to 6th year, and the beginning of the next chapter of your life. Today relax, and enjoy the opportunity to celebrate your work and your achievements. I and the ISSU would like to congratulate you on your success and hope you are happy with your choices and wish you all the best for the future. Don’t forget that there are plenty of facilities available to students including school guidance counsellors, family & friends , exam helplines and online resources to help students during this time.” ISSU President, Mark Caffrey added;“On behalf of the ISSU I would like to congratulate all Leaving Cert and Leaving Cert Applied students who have put in a lot of hard work over the pas number of years which culminates in today’s results. We are aware that many students still have concerns about the Project Maths syllabus, which is only in its second year of leaving cert examinations. In order to get student feedback on this issue, we are running a survey on www.issu.ie, the results of which we will feedback to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, and the Department of Education and Skills.” The ISSU urges students to use the National Parents’ Council post-primary (NPCpp) exam helpline (1800265165) to seek independent advice from qualified guidance counsellors if you are unsure of your options over the upcoming days. Online advice and support is available from ISSU on issu.ie.