Hi, my name is Maeve and I study communications in DCU.
Semester 2
Semester 1 RecapĀ 20/02/2020
Woah, I canāt believe itās already week 4 of semester 2 and this is only my first blog post. Semester one results are in, weāre in a good mood and ready to take semester 2 by storm. Itās all gone by like such a blur, but you know what they say, time flies when youāre having fun. Between my classes, coursework and of course my society involvement, I havenāt gotten a chance to just sit with my thoughts until now. Soooo, I wanted to give you a quick recap on semester one before I get to whatās happening now.Ā
Firstly my name is Maeve and I am a second year Communication Studies student. DCU has given me so much; fantastic friends, insightful classes, amazing opportunities and unforgettable experiences and everyday I wake up here I know I have made the right choice. This year as always Iām taking a mixture of theory and practical based modules which I want to talk about in a later post, but for now, just know Iām always kept on my toes.
As Iāve progressed into my second year Iāve found myself more and more orientated towards the practical skills and I can feel myself heading in a production direction career wise which is scary but exciting. My love for media production sent me in search of even more practical time which is where I found the Media Production Society on campus, from getting involved in first year, (hosting 3 radio shows, winning a short film competition, and all round just attending events) has lead me to be completely immersed in the society and inevitably on their organising committee. This year I am one of two station managers at DCUfm, our on campus radio station and am now seeing myself come full circle in facilitating others in producing their own radio shows.Ā
Throughout semester 1, alongside my DCUfm team, I got to host a range of radio events which were informative and engaging, like editing workshops, livestream music events and helped our society raise thousands for SONAS at our charity 24 hour tv broadcast. Through the Raising and Giving Society, where I have a committee position as Intersociety Officer, I got to volunteer with young kids at our social project Go GAGA, learn the skill of boxing through our charity event Rag Rumble and help the homeless with our shoebox appeal.Ā Ā
Thatās just a quick recap on what Iāve been getting up to, Iāll have loads more coming up on my course, the different projects Iāve been working on, and what itās like being a student ambassador. In the meantime, if youāre looking for something to read, some of my lovely ambassador friendsā have some excellent blogs that will help you learn all about our lovely DCU.
Hi everyone, my name is Jennifer and I am in my final year of Analytical Science here in DCU.
Semester 1
Friday 25th October 2019
Hi everyone,Ā
It is so hard to believe that we are already half way through semester 1 of college. I am currently in my final year of Analytical Science and I absolutely love my course. One of my favourite things about my course is the fact that we cover Chemistry and Biology right up to final year even though in third year you have to choose which one you want to mainly specialise in. This means that even if you choose the Chemistry Pathway you still get a really great background in Biology as well.Ā
In the first year of Analytical Science we covered all three sciences (chemistry, biology and physics) and we also completed labs in each of these three subjects. I absolutely loved the laboratory practicals because I found it really helped me to understand the topics that were covered in lectures. As well as these subjects we had a maths module as well.Ā
When it comes into second year of Analytical Science the subjects that are covered become more specialised into biology and chemistry. The labs that we do in second year are longer than the ones in first year but they are also much more interesting so you donāt really notice the time go by.
In third year I had to choose whether I wanted to specialise in mainly chemistry or mainly biology. I chose the chemistry pathway but as I mentioned before I still get to study biology as well which is great. I went on my INTRA placement (work placement) to Forensic Science Ireland in the second semester of third year. The experience that I gained from this placement was absolutely incredible.Ā
In final year we have to complete a final year project. My project is based on the Analysis of Carbon in seawater which is really interesting. In the first semester we have to read papers and book about the topic and then complete a literature review based on everything that we have read. We also have lectures on top of this which are all really interesting as everything that we have learnt in the past 4 years all starts to come together.Ā
So looking ahead to what I want to do when I finish my degree I am hoping to become a secondary school science teacher. At the moment I am currently trying to work on getting everything ready for my application and I am starting to get really excited about becoming a teacher.Ā
This year is also my last year of being a Student Ambassador š¢. I love this job because I get to work at so many different kinds of events such as open days, higher options, graduations and conferences as well. Being a student ambassador has also really helped me to overcome my fear of public speaking by giving campus tours and also talking to loads of people at careers fairs etc.Ā
Speaking of Open Days, make sure to come to the DCU Open Days on the 15th and 16th of November š„³ These Open Days give you a great opportunity to talk to loads of people about courses that you might be interested in and you will also get to see the DCU Campus and possibly go on a tour of the campus as well š„³
Thatās all for now everyone, Happy HalloweenĀ š»š and remember if you have any questions about DCU courses make sure to send an email to [email protected] š„³
When I first started filling out my CAO, I didnāt know where to begin. I just kept saying to myself āRoisĆn, youāre a dancer, these places are not for dancersā. It was such a frustrating time. My teachers kept telling me to make sure I go for a course that I will love and Iām passionate about, but also one with guaranteed job prospects. I had no clue how to balance both.Ā
When I started looking into DCU, I found courses that focused on the media industry, which has always been a background interest. But what was important to me at the time and still is now is what was outside of course life. Was I going to be able to keep my dancing up? Was my course practical enough?
Arriving in DCU I fell in love with my course quite quickly. I found the work a little difficult at first, Itās such a different way of learning, which I love now Iāve gotten used to it. Communication explores aspects of the media industry including practical work with photo, video and audio, but also theory that explores why we interact with certain content, sociology, law and media history.Ā
But what I fell most in love with is DCU Dance. The dance society offers classes every week in all styles, including my favourites commercial and contemporary. As well as that they had a professional choreographer in every week so I got to dance with well known figures in the industry. They offered competitive teams, performance opportunities and everything in between. So all of a sudden in DCU I found a balance of both passion and practicality, I had my degree but I also got to train in dance three to four days a week at a high level.
Because of my experiences in DCU Dance I was able to travel to the states this summer to teach dance to children on the Connecticut New York Border, Most of what I spoke of in my interview is the training received in DCU.
This year, I was lucky enough to be elected as public relations officer for DCU Dance, and dance officer for Sober Soc. These are two extremely busy roles. As public relations officer I am in charge of the promotion for all of our events and I run our websites and social media. This job gives me such practical experience in event organisation, communication and public relations. It can be busy, handling the promo for some of ACU's and some of Irelandās largest dance events such as The Ireland Dance Experiment. But this role fits in so well with my degree, which means I can balance both.
DCU became a home for me so quickly, and It feels like the years are flying in way too fast. I feel so lucky to be able to balance everything that was important to me when choosing a university, For now Iām going to keep dancing on!
Lastly theĀ DCU Open DaysĀ are on the 15th and 16th of November. These Open Days give you a great opportunity to talk to loads of people about courses that you might be interested in and you will also get to see the DCU Campus and go on a tour of the campus too. To register and find out all the info click here: https://www.dcu.ie/studentrecruitment/opendayĀ
Often students can struggle to figure out how to use the skills and knowledge they learn at university and adapt it to a real-life situation. Itās a concept I struggled with in the beginning, understanding how subjects like IT Skills and financial accounting would somehow be relevant to my future career. Little did I know, Iād be using those acquired skills and knowledge so soon in my future.Ā
At the beginning of lockdown, I decided to order myself a sewing machine. It was something I had wanted to invest in for a few years, but I just never had the time to spend learning how to use it and re-working clothes like Iād hoped to. So, I bought the sewing machine and got to work on some old clothes that I wanted to fix up and give a new lease of life. I was still quite busy with assignments and college work at the time I purchased it, but on the weekends Iād spend a few hours researching patterns and videos online. I got the hang of it eventually with a lot of practice and set off re-working some of my clothes.
One evening, I came across a youtube video on how to make reusable masks, and I decided to give it a go. I started making masks for my grandparents and family members, learning more about the process the more I made. Then, it was announced on the news a week later that the public was being advised to wear facemasks in shops and in situations where social distancing could not be adhered to. I saw this as a chance to use my skill and knowledge of business from my degree. I made a logo online, set up an Instagram page, and messaged about 20 ofĀ my friends on social media about it. I got about 12 orders for the following week, which I was delighted with! I had so much spare time on my hands that given the opportunity to spend it doing something productive was a bonus!Ā
Fast forward two weeks and business was going slow. I was only getting about two orders a day, but I knew I was capable of doing more. I was on a Zoom call with some of my friends from college, and one of them, my friend RĆ³isĆn, has recently started an INTRA placement with the Irish Sun. She was saying how every day she has to pitch ideas to her editor and she needed some inspiration for the next day. We started listing out some ideas, and one of the boys suggested an article on people making facemasks from home. The next day, she ran with that idea and pitched it to her editor, and he loved it! She messaged me with the news and I was delighted for her! But then, she asked if she could interview me for the article. I was delighted to be helping her out and really didnāt comprehend the things that this publicity could do for my start-up business.Ā
That evening, the article went live, and I couldn't believe how excellent it had turned out. RĆ³isĆn did an amazing job! Next thing I knew my phone started pinging and kept going and going. I couldnāt believe it when I checked to see over 10 message requests from complete strangers. I was ecstatic and nervous at the same time. After the initial shock, I calmed down and set about organising my business in order to comply with the high demand for my products. I was able to use skills I had learned in modules like operations management, financial accounting, consumer behavior, marketing - and the list continues. The knowledge I had acquired through my degree carried me through a hectic few weeks.Ā
Thankfully everything is running smoothly now, and customers are sending me messages everyday to say their masks have arrived and how impressed they are with them, which obviously gives me a great feeling. I couldnāt have predicted that in the circumstances I would begin my own small business, but im grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me, and I look forward to what the future holds, but for now, itās all about making my mark, with āMake your Maskā.
Adapting to change - 9th May 2020
What a crazy second semester we have had! Looking back, my last update was at the end of February - which seems like a lifetime ago! This post is really to fill you all in on whatās been happening in my life since then.
We were still on campus for lectures in week 6 of the second semester - I had a lot of assessments in Spanish that week, as well as a few assignments to hand in. I said goodbye to many of my classmates that Friday afternoon - little did I know that would be the last time I would see them for a long time. Then we had a reading week - which was hectic for me! I have been keeping this blog up to date on everything DCU Glee since September - and during reading week, we rehearsed for our upcoming show every day from 10am until 6 or 7 in the evening. It was so enjoyable and everyone in the cast became a lot closer as we spent so much time getting to know one another. It was such an enjoyable week full of fun and excitement - so as you can imagine, on Thursday the 12th of March when the government announced that all third-level institutions would be closing, we were gutted. The closure of the university ultimately meant that our show which was scheduled to go ahead on March 23rd in the Helix had to be cancelled. We are hopeful that we will have the opportunity to perform in the future when restrictions are eased - but for now, we are still keeping in touch via weekly zoom calls. The photo below was taken during our last rehearsalĀ
That weekend, I sadly had to pack up all of my belongings in my Dublin apartment and journey home to Donegal. On Monday the 16th of March we began online lectures - which was a big difference to the usual classroom setting- but thankfully I was able to adapt to the new way of learning. The help provided by the members of staff and the business faculty at DCU was amazing - the transition of going from being physically present in a lecture hall to online learning was a great success. It was difficult at first, but as soon as I structured my days, everything began to fall into place. Most of my modules changed from end of term assessments to end of term assignments, which we were given lots of time to research and prepare for. At first, the volume of assignments was a little overwhelming, but as I began to submit them, and the to-do list got shorter, it all felt a lot more manageable. All of my lecturers have been so helpful and understanding, given the challenge it has been to alter our way of learning. They have been on hand to answer emails and queries from the beginning, which has definitely benefitted students.Ā
One thing that I was really looking forward to was attending the DCU Clubs and Societies Awards - but thankfully, we still managed to have a great night and celebrate the achievements of many students in their extracurricular activities via a live awards ceremony on youtube. This year was DCU Gleeās first awards as an official society, and we managed to pick up an award for the best promotional video for our show.
I have to say, this time in quarantine has given me the opportunity to sit back and look at all the things Iāve achieved and accomplished in DCU in two short years - from becoming a committee member in a society, to working as a student ambassador - I am so grateful for the opportunities that the university has provided me with. I have made friends for life in DCU and I canāt wait until I can be on campus with them once again.Ā
So far, my Erasmus in Spain is still going ahead, and although I feel optimistic, I have told myself that everything happens for a reason - so if I have to adapt to a new way of doing an Erasmus in case of travel restrictions or other reasons, I will do that, and just take every day as it comes. In the meantime, I hope to complete some Spanish courses online in order to keep up my language skills.Ā
A great website Iāve come across in this time is Google Digital Garage, which allows you to complete courses online and gain certificates. Iām currently doing a certificate in Digital Marketing, which will hopefully be a new addition to my CV. A lot of them are business based, so anyone interested in studying it at university, maybe use this time to up-skill or find out about different subjects that might interest you!
Semester 2 has been nothing short of crazy so far! I havenāt had a chance to log on since week 2, and a lot has happened since then!
So during week three, I received my exam results and I am delighted to say that all of my hard work in semester one paid offĀ šWith everything going on-track academically, my next hurdle was Erasmus!
Erasmus options opened for the students in my course ( International Business) at the beginning of week 4. Thankfully I have more good news on that front - I will be moving to Valencia on the east coast of Spain at the end of August, where I will study and live for a year. To say I am excited is a complete understatement - I canāt wait to have the beach on my doorstep and to be surrounded by the Spanish culture and languagešŖšøIāve attached a link below of a video that shows off the beautiful city Iāll be doing my Erasmus in. There are of course lots of other destinations that DCU students travel to for Erasmus, one of my friends who is studying Business Studies International with Japanese will be moving to Japan for a year in September.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fOFm1x8yZI
In terms of modules, I am studying a Finance module for the first time - itās very interesting but some of the calculations can be quite tricky so Iām making sure to spend some time studying that throughout the semester. My favorite module so far would have to be The Changing Consumer; a module run by our course co-ordinator who is incredibly engaging and encourages in class discussions and questions. The topic itself is a branch of marketing, and we look at how companies have to strategically plan their marketing projects to suit an ever-changing world of technology and consumer habits.Ā
Last week I attended the DCU Style annual fashion show, which took place in the Helix. It was an incredible night, which showcased the many talents that the students of DCU has to offer - from the stylists to the models, every aspect of the event was run in such a professional manner. The fashion on show ranged from high-street stores to vintage shops and original designers. All in all it was an excellent exhibition of creativity. There is such a great variety of Clubs and Societies here at DCU, there is really something for everyone, no matter what youāre interested in. They really are the best way to branch out and meet likewise people and most of the student body would agree, they're the starting point of many friendships that last a lifetime!
Week 2 - 3rd February 2020
Hi everyone, itās been a while since Iāve updated the blog, so first and foremost Iāll fill you in on whatās been going on!
Before Christmas was hectic at college, with a lot of assignments due, as well as a few tests in subjects like Spanish. But thankfully everything went well!
Then January came, which meant only one thing - exams! I spent a lot of time with my head in the books after Christmas, and await my results which will be released this week!
This time of the year is incredibly busy for me, we have just started semester 2 and Iām studying a few new modules! Iām especially interested in Finance and the Consumer Behaviour module at the moment! Lecturers are beginning to hand out assignments and on top of all that, I will be choosing my Erasmus destination in a couple of weeks!
In international business, we get to do an Erasmus for our third year of university. In September I will begin studying for a year in Spain, an amazing opportunity that will help me to become fluent in the Spanish language! Some of my classmates will be traveling to Germany, France, China, and Japan to complete their year abroad. Itās such an exciting experience and will allow us to immerse ourselves in the culture of the language we study.
March is fast approaching which means only one thing for me - the DCU Glee Showcase! The cast is working very hard to learn songs and choreography at the moment. Itās going to be a hectic few weeks, but itās good to be busy and it makes it a lot easier when you love what youāre doing!
This week was careers week in DCU. The Careers office organised lots of workshops and talks for students to help them in their career path. I attended a career resilience workshop on Monday which I found very interesting. There was also an event where professionals from LinkedIn talked about how to create a great profile that employers would be drawn towards. There was plenty going on all over campus!
Semester 1 - 2019
Open Days
The DCU Open days are taking place this Friday 15th and Saturday 16th on the Glasnevin Campus and on Saturday 16th of November on the DCU St.Patricks Campus.Ā
Rewind two years and Iāll take you back to my DCU Open Day experience. I travelled up from Donegal early on Saturday morning and attend the open day with my mum and a few of my friends.
I had an open mind that day, I hadnāt yet decided if I wanted to go down the business and a language route, or if I wanted to study primary school teaching.
I was able to attend talks on all the business courses I was interested in and compare them in length, whether or not they had a year abroad option, INTRA placement opportunities and the chance to specialize in the final year. I was able to talk to the head of each of the courses and find out what modules Iād be studying. The lecturers were on hand to talk to prospective students about any queries they had.
After a tour of the Glasnevin campus and the accommodation, I got the bus to the St.Patricks campus. There I attended more talks on primary education and Arts studies with languages. After talking with the lecturers in Pats that day, I decided to focus on getting the points for Business and Spanish in DCU, as they told me I could always come back after my business degree and do a masters in Teaching. I left that day with the decision that I wanted to study in DCU.
Fast-forward two years and I couldn't be in a better place. I love my course, I love living in Dublin and I love being a part of the DCU Community. When everyone tells you whatās for you wonāt pass you, they're not far wrong!
So, make sure to visit the DCU Open days this weekend and have a chat with some students and lecturers if you are thinking about your next step in education. And if you see me working on Friday or Saturday, make sure to say hiĀ š
Week 6 - 28th October 2019
I canāt believe how quickly the first 6 weeks of the second year of college have been - it seems like only yesterday when I was beginning my job as a student ambassador for orientation week.
I havenāt had the chance to update my blog in the past few weeks as Iāve been crazy busy between the library and lectures and social life! But thankfully Iāve got a few days off now to catch up on readings, but more importantly to relax and see my family and friends at home in Donegal
I know Iāve been talking all about DCU Glee in my last posts, so I better update everyone on that.. we have a new cast for 2019/20 and everyone is not only super-talented but so so friendly! I canāt even begin to tell you how important it is to join clubs and societies in college - Iāve made so many friends through not only Glee but the other societies Iām a member of. Ā So Iām back to rehearsals twice a week - if anyone's looking for me on a Monday or Thursday evening, I can be found singing around DCU!
Reading week always marks a bit of a hectic time in the semester, as there's usually a few deadlines with projects and assignments. The library gets a little busier in weeks 5 and 6 as people put their heads in the books! Itās always worth it in the end.
In other news, I got selected for the Mentorship programme that the DCU Careers office, along with the Alumni office run for second-year undergraduate students. Itās a great achievement to be selected and Iām really looking forward to finding out more about the career that I want to work towards. I have been paired with a technology consultant in Accenture, and I will meet my mentor at least once a month from now until March. When we meet, we will discuss what kind of career I might be suited to, any questions I have about technology consulting or Accenture, and in February I will participate in a work-shadow day. Itā[s just one of the amazing opportunities DCU has on offer - I know Iām going to thoroughly enjoy the experience.
Finally, the DCU open days are fast approaching. On November 15th or 16th you will have a chance to come to DCU to see what it is all about. For moreĀ informationĀ and to register click here:Ā https://www.dcu.ie/studentrecruitment/openday
Week 2 - 30th September 2019
Well, itās all well and truly kicking off this week! The Clubs and Socs fair began on the Glasnevin campus on Monday, and with DCU Glee being a new society, we had a big push on to recruit new students to join us! The clubs and socs fair is always so exciting, it really is a great example of all the great opportunities available to DCU students - from the Drama Society to Snow-sports, there really is something for everyone!
I had a look around all of the stalls and decided to sign up to the DCU Start-Up society, in the hope that Iāll be able to learn some skills and information that will be transferable to my course.
I made my first few trips back to the library this week, after a long summer free of studying, as I had to catch up on some readings for my lectures. I learnt from last year that itās best to hit the ground running and keep on top of the workload from the beginning - in college you need to constantly be engaged in what youāre learning.
On Thursday evening I sat in my first committee meeting for DCU Glee, where we met with our clubs officer to discuss our plans for the year. We have a meeting with all of our new members on Monday the 7th of October and auditions for the cast are also coming up next week. Itās going to be crazy!
Week 1 - 23rd September 2019
On Monday I began my second year of college here at DCU - It was a long long Summer and I am so excited for the year ahead! I was actually working during orientation last week (16th of Sept) and I canāt believe that itās already been a year since I started my DCU journey!
I already know that my second year is going to be jam-packed, and I am really looking forward to the coming months. Itās obviously going to take a while to get used to my new timetable and also the new modules Iāll be studying this year, but I feel well ready for the challenge.
Iām studying international business with Spanish here at DCU, and this year is important for me because I want to improve my Spanish skills in preparation for my Erasmus next year, where Iāll go to Spain to study for the academic year.
Itās only week one, and Iāve already been busy with Clubs and Societies! On Tuesday DCU Drama organised an event called ā Festival of the Arts,ā which displayed an array of talents that the students of DCU have to offer! I am a member of the DCU Glee Society, and a few of our cast members from last years show got together to perform in the U, our student centre, at lunchtime on Tuesday.
I also began my job as PRO (Public Relations Officer) for the DCU Glee Society. Itās my job to run the social media accounts for DCU Glee and answer any emails or messages that people have about what we do. Itās a great way to use some of the techniques I learned in some of my business and marketing lectures last year, and Iām really happy to be so involved with clubs and societies. I think itās the best way to meet like-minded people and make friends outside of your course. It has definitely helped me gain more confidence and taught me excellent life skills.
My name is Rebecca and I study Education here in DCU.
Semester 1 - 2019
13th of November 2019
Hello again!
Weāre already in the final stretch! Reading week has come and gone, and we're cracking on with assignments. I've been meeting up with people to work on our group work assignments between lectures, trying to get on top of them as early as possible. The closer it gets to assignment submission dates, the harder it can be to find the time to meet up with assignment groups, so getting them out of the way first can be a massive weight off the shoulders.Ā
Mid-October I went to The Burren in County Clare with DCU Caving Club and it was absolutely incredible. I went to two caves; Poll Dhubh and Pollnagollum and they were both so beautiful. We went in excited and dry and came out muddy and damp with such an appreciation for the sport and the caves. The bruises were so worth it! Club/Society trips are always so much fun, and a great way to meet new people outside of the college environment. Definitely looking forward to the next one!
In First Year, I think I joined about 5 clubs/societies and didn't get to fully commit to any single one, so this year I joined just the one and dove straight in. Personally, I prefer this, but some of my friends are in 3 or 4 clubs/societies and they love the variety of it all. As long as you're enjoying yourself, join as many as you like!Ā
Our Open Days are coming up extremely soon, and I cannot wait! I remember being in Sixth Year and not knowing which college I wanted to go to. For me, the open days really showed off the atmosphere in the college, and that's how I decided where I wanted to go. It's also great to see the buildings and know how to get there. I found that really helpful, because when I came into college for my very first day, I had a vague idea of where I was going and didn't feel totally lost. There's going to be loads of current students and student ambassadors there, along with lecturers to tell you anything and everything you want to know about any specific course.Ā
This video on the DCU Facebook page will give you all of the information you need!
If you don't have a course in mind yet, don't let that stop you either! Come on down and see what's available and what interests you. I found that looking at lists and lists of courses in the CAO handbook was overwhelming, but talking to people about their course and getting tours of the different campuses helped to make it all feel more real and less daunting.Ā Weāll be on the Glasnevin campus on Friday the 15th of November from 10am until 3pm, and on Saturday the 16th of November from 10am until 2pm. You can come see us on the St.Patrickās Campus on Saturday the 16th of November fromĀ 9:30am until 2:30pm. There will be a shuttle bus from Glasnevin Campus to St. Patrickās Campus on Saturday, so you wonāt even have to face the cold! We'd be only delighted to see you there this weekend!Ā Ā Ā
15th of October 2019
Introductions
Hi! My name is Rebecca, and I'm in my fourth and final year of my Bachelor of Education. This time next year Iāll (hopefully!) be a Newly Qualified Teacher, and be teaching my own class. Iām lucky enough to be able to live at home, as I live close to the city centre in Dublin. Iāll be letting you know what Iām getting up to in the coming months!Ā
As an introduction to me, enjoy this video of me almost falling into a lake. Almost is the key word. An important thing to know about me is that Iām fairly clumsy, Iāll admit, so Iām pretty proud of this.
September was fairly hectic! In the space of that month I finished up my summer job as a tour guide, did my first and second driving lessons, went to Student Ambassador training and worked at a conference and Higher Options, started fourth year, and here we are. If you saw me at Higher Options, hello again and I hope youāre doing well! If you saw me on the roads during my first driving lessonā¦ Iām so sorry!
One big happy family at Higher Options!
Final Year
Fourth year is definitely keeping us busy, but we have some really interesting modules this year, like digital learning, where weāre learning about how Minecraft can be used in the classroom to help with spatial awareness and coding, and special and inclusive education, learning how to write educational plans for children with special educational needs. Weāve gotten almost all of the details for our assignments, and Iām looking to get started on them this week. Having learnt from past experiences of being caught off guard by the deadlines that sneak up on you fairly quickly, I made myself a handy dandy list of our assignments and their due dates. I usually find that getting them started is the hardest part, and once you plan it out and get those first hundred words down, the rest of the essay comes naturally. Iāll keep you posted on how theyāre coming along in the weeks to come.
Ā Caving Club
This year, I've joined DCU Caving Club and I am absolutely loving it. It's challenging and daunting while still being really exciting and fun. I wished I'd joined sooner. I'll be honest, I didn't know that DCU had a caving club, or what that even entailed, but I got chatting to them at the Clubs and Socs Fair on St. Pats campus and decided to go along to the training at the rock climbing wall on Glasnevin campus, and had such a good time that they haven't been able to get rid of me since! We'll be heading down to the Burren to get into a cave this weekend, so more on that next time!
Trying on some of the caving gear that was all faaaar too big on me!
Hi! My name is Ellen and I am a second year student studying the Bachelor of Religious Education and English - donāt worry, itās not as daunting as it sounds!
Welcome to my blog!Ā
A blog?
Yes, a blog. This is where I am going to provide you with an insight into life at DCU - or at least try! Iām really excited about this. I plan on letting you know about all the aspects of DCU from my experiences and filling you in on college life and opportunities. I will fill you in on the things that I engage with throughout the year, whether it be within my course or outside of it. I intend on doing as much as I can this year alongside my coursework, assignments and placement.Ā
Why DCU?
I choose to study here at DCU because I felt like it offered me the perfect course for the job I wanted to pursue in the future. I attended an Open Day on the St. Patrickās Campus and I was sold. The people were beyond lovely and helpful and I am delighted to say that this did not change when I came into college. Everybody I have had an opportunity to meet and talk to have been wonderful. DCU offers a number of opportunities in this respect. On top of this, DCU provides students with a chance to engage with the things that we love - any hobbies or interests that we have! It is excellent because there is something for everyone and if not - you can make it yourself, no matter how far out your ideas might be!
Plans for the year?
Well, I am glad you asked. This year I plan to do a couple of things! Firstly, I want to focus on my course and the work I have to do throughout the year. I really want to get the most out of college in this respect as I am surrounded by really professionals who can aid me on the journey to becoming the best teacher I can be. Secondly, I want to get really involved in all the work that the Student Ambassadors do. I want to avail of all the opportunities that the job presents to me. Thirdly, I want to get involved in all aspects of college life to the best of my ability. I really want to experience a lot this year!
And last, but definitely not least, I want to start learning how to drive! This might sound ridiculous but I have been putting it off for far too long and this year is the year I will do it!!
I really hope that everyone enjoys my blog this year. It would be incredible if anyone gets something from them - be it a piece of information that they need or just a smile! :)
I really recommend that you read the blogs written by other students! They are a great way for you to learn about life as a student and to see what potential opportunities might be coming your way in the future!
P.S: Come to our Open Days happening on November 15th and 16th!
September 2019; Orientation and Freshers Week
Hello everyone and welcome back to my channel blog! In todayās video blog we are going to talk about all the things that come with starting college!
Orientation 2019
I worked Orientation this year for the first time and I really enjoyed it! Orientation is the first week of the year for any new students attending DCU. Orientation helps you to get ready for the year to come - it is a great way to start to find your feet, get settled and find some new friends.
A lot of people worked hard to organise orientation this year, a number of students (including myself!) spent three days of the week prior to Orientation putting packs together for the new students and organising everyone's jobs for the week to come. Orientation was the first time I got to work with a number of the Student Ambassadors and it was a great way to get to know them alongside all of the other students who were there too! It was a great opportunity to meet new people and make friends!
Orientation consists of lots of talks and activities (like the scavenger hunt hehe!). The new students, over the course of the week, get to meet academic, administrative and student support staff as well as receive guided tours of the campuses in order to help them feel at ease. College can be a big change so we want to make it as smooth as possible for everyone. We want to make sure that all if our students feel at home on the DCU campuses. On top of the talks and tours, students are given mini tutorials on how to look at and read their timetable. They also get to pick up their student cards and Leap Card which are what everyone worries about the most!Ā
It was really nice to meet all the new students and help them out in anyway that I could. I gave a number or tours on DCU's St.Patrick's Campus and it was a great way to get to meet and talk to the new students. The tours are also a great way to help students settle - as well as giving them a tour and the history of the college, it gives ambassadors a chance to give some 'Top-Tips' for college life in general! It also gives people an opportunity to ask us anything they want or need an answer to, especially in that first week!
Freshers Week 2019
Freshers Week happens at the start of the year! It is a chance for everyone to meet new people and make new friends! It is really great because there are a number of different activities and events put on for students during the day and in the evenings. It is not compulsory to attend all, or any, of the events but it is an excellent way to mingle with other students.
All sorts of events are put on during Freshers Week. This year we had things such as a petting-zoo, movie nights and āPaint and Playā. The Student Union (SU) arranges a number of events/activities for Freshers Week. There is the DCU Fest, Bingo Loco and the Freshers Fun Day. On top of that, they also organise events for people who have moved into campus accommodation so they can get to know one another. They also organise things such as County Colours Night and International Night. Throughout the year they also do what is called Wellness Wednesday which is put in place to promote well-being.Ā
During the week the SU hosted a table-quiz in aid of Barretstown Childrenās Charity - who DCU have partnered with to help support their work with children and their families living with serious illnesses. I went to this and it was absolutely brilliant! Everyone had an incredible night - unfortunately āYup The Ivyā were not the winning team - but next year we will come back with a vengeance!! There were brilliant prizes to be won throughout the evening in a big raffle, such as tickets to some of the events that the SU were putting on. The evening was made better knowing we had all contributed to a wonderful cause. This is only one of the events that the SU organise for Freshers! It is important that we help each other to feel at home at DCU and this is just one way to do it. There is plenty to do and something for everyone. It also makes the ease back into college a lot easier after the summer!
So, to sum up, Orientation and Freshers Week are great fun and really helpful - it is a great way to make new friends and begin to experience life in college alongside a lovely group of people!
Until the next time, Ellen :)
P.S: Come to our Open Days happening on November 15th and 16th 2019!
September 18th - 20th 2019; Higher Options
Hello again everyone, I hope you are all doing well!Ā
In today's blog Iām going to tell you a little bit about Higher Options!
Higher Options is an event held in the RDS at the start of every school year. It is open to everyone and is particularly popular for fifth and sixth years in secondary schools. Higher Options is a truly excellent idea and if you get the chance to go, do! It is brilliant because it allows students to survey colleges and apprenticeships that are on offer all over the country. Everything is all in one everything which makes life easier for everyone! It offers students the ability to talk to people who are already in or associated with any particular institution, where they can gain invaluable insights on the place in question.
At the DCU stand you can find prospectus' and mini booklets that summarise each course offered by DCU. There is also a section for general inquiries regarding the university. We divide our stand into the different faculties so that it is easy for people to go directly to the stand they are looking for or be able to find their way around to see what options are available to them! I was at the education stand, representing post-primary teaching alongside the students in the Bachelor of Education (primary school) and Education in Training. It was a fabulous three days! I got to speak to a number of students from other faculties and learn all about their courses and why they chose them and furthermore, I also got to speak to loads of students in school who were searching for the course of their dreams hehe! It was a really great experience because I got to talk to people who were interested in DCU about DCU and student life. I loved helping people learn more about college in general, DCU and the courses that they were interested in. I got to speak to a number of students who were interested in my course which was really cool. It is really nice to hear why people want to do what they want to do! I was thrilled to be there! I really hope I can go again next year!
I remember when I went to Higher Options in sixth year and it was just as fun from that point of view - it is an entertaining day out of the classroom, where you get to focus on yourself and your future. It is okay to not know too - nobody really knows anyway! The free goodies and tasty food from the food trucks is an added bonus too hehe!
In short, I am trying to say that Higher Options is a priceless occasion that everyone should have the opportunity to attend! If you get to go, make the most of it.Ā
That is the end of today's blog, I am excited to see what is to come in the upcoming ones!
Thank you for listening to my TED Talk.
P.S:Ā Come to our Open Days happening on November 15th and 16th 2019!
November 15th 2019 +; Open Days and Assignment Season!
Hi! I hope you are all doing well!
We have officially had our November Open Days! They were brilliant!
I hope you enjoyed your day out on our campuses! I hope that you found it to be informative and helpful in some way! I went to a DCU Open Day on St. Patricksā Campus when I was in sixth year and it certainly helped me to make my decision to attend DCU. The people were so helpful, friendly and very encouraging. I was met with such a warm, happy environment and I hope that you had a similar experience when you were here!
I met some wonderful people at the Open Day, doing tours and answering questions. It was very busy throughout the day but it was so lovely to meet you all and see how excited people are to get out of school and into college. You will love it here (if you choose to come here!) ā you will have the time of your life, meeting new people, making new friends and picking up new hobbies or interests!
Now that we are a little bit into the semester Assignment Season is upon us! Donāt worry ā it is not as bad as it sounds ā but it is a reality of college life that we all have to face. We have settled back into college after a wonderfully long summer holiday and now it is time to get to work. The assignments have started to pop up and demand attention from us. It is okay though; we are all working hard and it will all work out at the end!
Wish me luck!
We will chat soon, thanks again for such a wonderful Open Day Experience!
Take care of yourself,
Ellen
December 2019: I.T.P
Hi everyone! Welcome back, I hope you are keeping well and minding yourself!
Todayās blog is going to be centered around I.T.P (Intermediate Teaching Practice) which is considered to be a major part of Semester One in second year of the Bachelor of Religious Education and your chosen elective (mine is English!). This is 'major' - for want of a better phrase - because it is the first time you will get up on front of a group of secondary school students to teach them!Ā
How does I.T.P work?
I.T.P is similar to FTP (Foundational Teaching Practice) which takes place in first year, only this time it is not with primary school students and you have a little bit longer to teach!
Essentially, you get a class period and teach it with other people from your elective. In first year you are divided into groups of around four to six people but in second year, you might only be teaching with one or two other people. You teach one R.E class and one class of your elective. The students come into the college for the day - we collect them and drop them back afterwards. I.T.P lasts a little bit longer than F.T.P because more classes need to be taught due to smaller groups.Ā
So, was it any good?
I.T.P was brilliant this year! Naturally, everyone was a little but nervous just before heading into the classroom for the first time but once you get in there and start, you remember how fun it can be in the classroom. By the time your few minutes are up, you are back in the swing of things and are already looking forward to your second lesson - and after that: placement!
I.T.P is such a wonderful experience because it allows you the opportunity to ease into teaching again (considering the last time was January!). On top of that, it settles any sort of nerves you may have had before placement - you don't get thrown into the deep end. That is why I.T.P is such an important and beneficial experience. It teaches you little bits and bobs that are nice to know before heading out into the classroom on placement.
I.T.P also provides you with an opportunity to receive a lot of feedback that helps you develop your teaching so that you can become the best teacher that you can possibly be - it is beyond insightful and helpful. Especially in such a supportive environment, everyone really binds during exercises like I.T.P .
I.T.P was one of the selling-points that encouraged me to pick this course. The idea of 'micro-teaching' is a little bit daunting at first but when you consider how beneficial it can be, you just have to go for it!
That is what I have been caught up with the past couple of weeks in between lectures and the end of assignment season! It was a brilliant experience and I'm delighted that I had the opportunity to do it!Ā
Now, I am off to take a big 'ol nap to get myself ready for next week! Placement is right around the corner and I'm really looking forward to it!Ā Ā
Until the next time,
Mind yourself,
Ellen
P.S: If you have any questions about anything DCU related, send an email to [email protected]
December 16th 2019 - January 31st 2020; Placement
Hey, welcome back! I hope you have been keeping well.
Today's blog is going to be about placement - which brought us to the end of a wonderful first semester and into the start of what we hope to be a just as good - if not better - second semester!
The Bachelor of Religious Education consists of four placements over the course of the four years of the degree.
In first year, you complete two weeks of teaching in a primary school - this is a brilliant experience and one that I will cherish forever! It was an excellent way to begin your teaching career (it is especially great because you are not the same age as your students - if you have just left school you would be about the same age as the sixth years!) and it really allows you to see the progression of learning from sixth class to first year. It gives you the opportunity to see what kind of things that sixth class learn prior to coming into secondary school which gives you some sort of basis for working with first years!Ā
In second year you will complete four weeks of teaching practice - which is the same as the third year placement! And in fourth year, you do twelve weeks of teaching practice.Ā
Prior to starting teaching in January every year, you complete a 'School Visit Day' and a 'Context and Engagement Week'.Ā
'School Visit Day' is an excellent way of meeting the Principal and Vice-Principal of the school you will be completing placement in, as well as other members of staff, the secretaries and your cooperating teachers! You will learn all about the school - its ethos and policies.Ā
'Context and Engagement Week' is absolutely brilliant! This is a non-teaching week that presents you with an opportunity to meet the class groups you will be working with as well as an opportunity to get to know the staff! You can take part in extracurricular activities that go on in the school as well as getting to know your way around before classes start!
Placement itself is an absolutely incredible experience - it is easily one of the major highlights of the course!Ā I think the way placement is carried out is a major benefit of the course - it is not a half day in college and half teaching; it is all teaching - you get to get into the role of the teacher and not have to go back-and-forth between the two mindsets of teacher and student.Ā
I love placement - it is an extremely enjoyable aspect of the course: practice is the best way to learn how to be a teacher. It gives you the chance to put all the theory you have been learning to practice. On top of that, it is the thing you will be doing after you finish college so it is a great way to begin practicing to become the best teacher you possibly can be!Ā
I cannot express how enjoyable and beneficial placement is! You will have to see for yourself! I have just completed my second year placement and I am very much looking forward to next year!
If you have any questions about placement, come to some Open Days or email [email protected]!Ā
Hi, my name is Sarah and I am a mature student studying Psychology. I hope you enjoy my blog about my experience in DCU.
Semester 1 - 2019
December 20th, Semester 1: Finishing Semester
At just like that it is over. Semester 1 of year 3 is complete! It is honestly so hard to explain how quickly each semester goes. One of my friends said it best when she told us that we have 6 semesters done and only 3 more left until we graduate.Ā
I wish my semesters we more balanced for me personally. I have not found a balance between college time and mom time. Each week that passes I think next week will be better, next week I will be more organised. But then life happens and my little one gets sick. (Trying to leave for college when your three-year-old is pleading with you to stay, is an actual test I have only seldom passed!)Ā
But look, I have made it. There are still assignments to do and exams to prepare for but I have survived and made it through! Take that anxiety! We had an amazing end to this semester. We had to present our preliminary finds from our research project on the last day of the term. It was an amazing way to finish up. Getting to see everyone's hard work presented in a mock conference-style was incredible.Ā
Here we are, if you look super close you can see that there is a buggy in the background and a small personās feet hanging out! Yes, listening to me present made my daughter fall asleep!... Now I know how to get her to bed early on Christmas Eve!Ā
Now, only four more sleeps everybody!
December 2nd, Semester 1: Managing Anxiety
Okay, the final stretch of the semester. So far this semester is going much better than this time last year! Last year, I developed extreme anxiety. I have probably always had anxiety on some level without knowing it really. Despite reading about anxiety and talking to many different people who experienced anxiety and all the bits that go with. I never recognised it in myself. I always just thought I was a bit weird! Last year though it passed my normal threshold of just negative thoughts and feeling worried about not being able to complete a task. Usually, I would take some time to myself and focus on some soul searching and in a week or two the moment would pass and I would return to normal functioning. Last year though this was not the case. I guess this time I was almost finished semester one of second year which was an achievement for me personally. The fear of not belonging or not being good enough, that someone would soon figure out that I was not a good enough student and would kick me out of college became so overwhelming. (Of course, this is a completely irrational thought, but that is the mechanism of anxiety!).Ā
I felt that I wasnāt doing well enough (I was really doing fine) in college and I wasnāt being a good enough mum to my daughter either. So two of the things I love more than anything imaginable, I was failing at, or at least that is what I thought. My anxiety manifested in panic attacks, which I believed to be some kind of issue with my heart (yes, really). I would shake for hours uncontrollably and was unable to sleep. I remember hearing someone talk about their anxiety and not being able to move out of bed in the morning time, in the morning they felt like a zero. After spending hours just trying to talk themselves to leave the house, they finally managed it and everything was okay.Ā So at night time, late at night, finally they felt like a bit of a hero and could not sleep, and so the cycle would continue.Ā
This is anxiety. This is the dark passenger (Dexter quote), that has been around me for a very long time, the only thing with college is that I could just stay inside for two weeks until it passed. I had to keep trying to get there, trying to do my assignments, and the vicious thought pattern ofĀ āIām not good enoughā is not a friend when you are doing course work!. My anxiety was crippling, the fear was so real. I have to point out here that DCU has an on-campus doctor and health centre which is staffed by some truly incredible people. They helped me work through all of my anxiety and to understand how to manage it better.Ā I was able to communicate my experiences to my lecturers, without their understanding and encouragement to just keep going little by little, I would not be about to finish this semester now.Ā
The reason I wanted to talk about this is that I know so many people who have experienced similar experiences to the one I have described. Many people might worry about not being good enough or able to complete something they really want to do. You absolutely can. If you are reading this and are really thinking that this is something you can relate to, know that anxiety or any mental health difficulty does not have to define you, it does not control you. I have learned over the last year that my anxiety is a guide, a little Jiminy Cricket (less friendly at times). My anxiety was telling me I needed to take a breather, regroup and remember what is important. My path has brought me here, and there is a bigger picture that is being built around me. I honestly believe this. I feel that Psychology in DCU has been so much more than just a college course, a thing I put down on my CAO form. It was a conscious decision that has brought me on an incredible journey of understanding my world, myself and my life. Little by little, it has rippled down through my family and huge. This course has already been so much more than just an academic education.Ā
Just remember...
Ā November 3, Week 7: Reading Week
So the weeks are flying by, we are already in week 7! This week we have a reading week. This is fantastic, it really gives everyone a great chance to get some reading in and some space to organise for the second half of the semester, as well as preparations for assignments and continuous assessments.
This year we have a big group project for our Research Methods module. It is an amazing opportunity to really see what it is like to get stuck into different types of research. I have to say this practical side of the Psychology programme is amazing! A lot of our modules have a lecture and workshop or practical based session throughout the weeks. If you are like me and you learn better by doing then this is an amazing part of Psychology at DCU! We have been building up our research methods and statistic experience over the first two years, each week theory comes in the lecture and then we have gotten a chance to run some statistical analysis in our practicals based on the theory we have covered in class. I was not a mathematical person what so ever, to say I feared numbers is putting it mildly! This module has become one of my favourites! I am not saying I am amazing at it by any āmeansā (another statistical joke), but I love the module, something my family could never have imagined me saying... ever!
Aside from catching up on some course work, I had an amazing start to the week. On Monday, I was helping out at the World Online Learning Conference, which was an incredible experience, to say the least! It was a huge amount of fun and I got to meet some amazing people from over the world who were working or teaching in some way through an online platform.
...As you can see there was a lot of fun as well as a huge amount of organisation, work and dedication from all those involved from the National Institute for Digital Learning (NIDL) at DCU. Below is Mark one of the organisers and one of my fellow student ambassadors (I am safely behind the camera!)
Before I head off this evening, I really just want to remind you guys about the Open Days which are coming up very soon, (November 15th &16th). These days are so much fun, you get to come and visit the campus and meet some of the students and lecturers. There will be talks about the Psychology programme and a whole lot of lovely people to chat with, if this doesn't tempt you enough, I will also be there to answer (as best I can) any questions you have at all! Check out the website for more details.
The link is right here: Ā https://www.dcu.ie/studentrecruitment/openday
I have so much more news to tell you all but right now is bedtime, so I am off to read Christmas stories and tuck a whole lot of teddy bears into a bed while somehow fit a 3-year-old in there too.
Until next time (hopefully the weekend), wish me luck for bedtime!
October 22, Semester 1: Thinking Back
I can not believe that I am beginning week five of my third year of psychology. I have just finished preparing my CV for Intra (work placement) applications. I can not help but think back to my first week in first yearā¦
In that beginning week, we all sat in HG50, a room that would soon become like a new home to us. I had met some of the mature students from my class already. During the Summer there was a mature student evening and then before the semester started we had the option to be involved with a mature student writing week. We all sat in that room, excitedly waiting and anxiously whispering to each other. Probably all of us still in disbelief that we had somehow managed to find ourselves here sitting in a room with some of the brightest leaving cert students in the country.
Somehow I had managed to finally get here. I had been a self-proclaimed life wanderer, weaving in and out of jobs that were underpaid and where I was overworked with huge amounts of stress and little space to grow. A person who had longed to be an excellent student in school but had fallen, unnoticed through the cracks of teenage school life like an Alice tumbling down to Wonderland. School had been a frightening experience for me in my life and probably an experience that up until that first week in 2017 sitting in a DCU lecture room, was an experience I did not wish to repeat.
As our soon to be lecturers filed into to room, making their way to the very front, all smiling and talking quieting amongst themselves I couldnāt have felt more excited. One by one, they introduced themselves to us and briefly highlighted the modules they teach on and their own area of expertise. Ā Almost all of them spoke in some way about how not so long ago they themselves were sitting in a room much like us and in the blink of an eye that moment had passed. It couldnāt possibly happen that way for me I thought, no way. This is going to be a long journey, four years is a āsignificantā [psychology joke, after 1st year research methods you will get it more] amount of time and it will feel that way I thought.
The first two years of university was personally tough for me. My dad had become quite ill in the Spring of 2017. Very quickly, the mixture of caring for a sick parent while negotiating being a parent to a one-year-old, attending lectures, tutorials and practicals, volunteering and somehow squeezing in a homelife became real. It was like just one morning I woke up and all of a sudden I was an adult!Ā
I was alive with life, soaking up every drop of university I could, the no sleep didnāt matter because I was learning. I was learning so much about so much that I wanted to learn about, and that is honestly a life-changing thingā¦
But that is enough about my thinking back for now. For now, I just want anyone to know, that for me the last two years have been a test. I am not sure what the universe was testing me for but all I know is that everything that is possibly imaginable as stress has happened to me within two years. All squeezed together for maximum effect but here I am about to begin applications for a work placement and hopefully neuroscience-related (my dream).
If you are in any way thinking that you want to study psychology as a mature student or other, and if you are worried that it will be hard to manage, all I can say is, yes it is hard but you absolutely can manage it. You will absolutely not regret that choice. You will grow and develop in so many ways you never expected. I like to think in ways I am stronger after those two years, I am better for it. And all those lecturers, who might have seemed like just faces I saw on my first week, the ones who introduced themselves and their area of study to my class. Each and every one of them supported me and encouraged me to follow my dream and to keep going when things got the hardest. That is why DCU is different, I am certain that in any other place in time, I would not have survived, I would not have managed, and quite frankly I could very well be curled up in a ball somewhere crying.
And so here I am writing about it, almost halfway through my first semester of my third year as a psychology student. This can absolutely be you too (minus the personal stress of course!). Ā If you like Alice in Wonderland, then follow that white rabbit and let yourself fall into the madness that is the land of psychology. You will not regret it.
Lastly the DCU Open Days are on the 15th and 16th of November. These Open Days give you a great opportunity to talk to loads of people about courses that you might be interested in and you will also get to see the DCU Campus and go on a tour of the campus too. To register and find out all the info click here: https://www.dcu.ie/studentrecruitment/opendayĀ
Today is my final day to write a blog in this seriesĀ ā5 Blogs in 5 Daysā. Unfortunately, I didnāt manage to write the five blogs in five consecutive days as the goal I initially set out for myself, but Iām not going to be too hard on myself, in fact I am going to give myself credit for writing five blogs. We are always self critical of ourselves and rarely full of praise for what we might accomplish. If we didnāt hit the 5km on a run but we should be giving ourselves praise for going on a run and running 4km. Next time you are doing something and might fall short, give yourself praise for what you did. When IĀ didn't write a blog yesterday, I said to myself I wonāt allow this small stoppage occur two days in a row. So today, I got back up on my horse and here I am writing my final blog!
5. Passion -
My fifth and final core value is onĀ āPassionā. We all have passions but how many of us pursue our passions? Maybe some of us are unsure of our passions or think we are passionate about something when, deep down we really are not.Ā
If you are unsure or need a remind of your passions, ask yourself these 3 simple questions?
1. What do you love doing and what gives you the most joy and satisfaction?
2. Does what you do add meaning to your life?
3. If all jobs or careers paid an equal amount of money, what would you choose to do?
My Passions -
Some of my main passions in life are sports, helping others, growing as a person and helping others fulfil potential. So in the summer of 2017, I decided to quit my job in a travel agency and pursue what I had a passion for. I was unmotivated, sitting at a desk and working an office job. This life and career didnāt suit me as a person, especially long term. While away on a sun holiday in Spain, about a week or two after I had left my job, I began brainstorming and asking myself the questions above. After a week of headspace, relaxation and a clear mind I decided that teaching would be my future. I visualised returning to university as a challenge. A challenge in which I would grow as an individual, an opportunity to be educated on exercise and fitness and discover ways that I could make a difference within a school environment. I am now proudly at the end of my second year at DCU, studying Physical Education and Maths. Donāt be afraid to make that decision to pursue what you are passionate about. Donāt delay making that decision. Maybe in the current situation, this gives you an opportunity to really think about what you love doing in life. This might be an opportunity to trial things such as writing, creating videos, starting a podcast to talk about something that you are passionate about etc.Ā āEvery cloud has a silver liningā.
The Minimalists -Ā
Since 2016, I began to follow two life long friends who call themselvesĀ āThe MinimalistsāĀ Ā and their journey out of the corporate world and into a life doing what they love on a daily basis. Josh and Ryan have managed to inspire millions of people around the world (including me) to focus on the five core values, which these blogs have followed each day.Ā āLess is Moreā is a popular quote from āTheĀ Minimalistsā in which they give you tools of how to simplify your life, which allows you to spend more time with the people you love, spend your hard earned money on essentials only and experiences and most importantly how to pursue your passion! If you have a Netflix account, it is worth checking out the guys documentary. It gives a great insight into their decision making and how they accomplished their goals. Check out the trailer from YouTube by clicking here. These guys have me passionate about living a life with less things and more experiences and I am continuing on my journey of minimalism. The great thing about becoming a minimalist, is there is no set rule. Everyone can be different and, is different. You can live your minimalist life how you like to, or just call it your life, how you want to.
Tenzing -Ā
I attended the Vitality Health Festival, in the RDS back in September and was introduced to a natural energy drink called Tenzing. Since November, I have been hired as Brand Ambassador, as I truly believe what this drink is all about. As I said itās a natural energy drink purely from plants. The drink is inspired by Sherpa Tenzing (one of the first two men to summit Mt. Everest). It is a plant-based triple hit of natural caffeine, electrolytes and vitamin C. Some of the reasons I am passionate about promoting the Tenzing drink:
The cans are BPA free and 100% recyclable.
5% of profits help fund environment projects.
Rainforest Alliance Certified.
48 calories per can and zero artificial additives.
The sugar content is 9.8g compared to 27g from other energy drinks.
If you have an instagram account check out the new Tenzing Ireland page at @Tezning_irlĀ and the team will be giving you chances to win some prizes. Once the restrictions are completely lifted and you would like to try a sample or two, please drop me an email [email protected] and I will some samples to you.
Finally, I would like to thank each and everyone of you would have read a sentence, a paragraph, a blog or all five blogs. And I hope you found some value in them, some motivation or even some new ideas during these challenging times. As always I like to finish with a challenge. Since I decided to pursue and talk publicly about my passions through writing blogs, which is something very new to me, especially five in six days, I encourage you to do one thing that is new to you and that you are passionate about today. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions, advice or just want to say hello by emailing me at [email protected].
Remember this is not forever!
Take care,
Gary x
5 Blogs in 5 Days - 3rd April 2020
āGiving is livingā - The Minimalists! Happy Friday everyone. Iām keeping todays blog short and sweet. My fourth core value,Ā āContributionā. In thisĀ difficult time, its the perfect opportunityĀ to contribute to your local community. Contribution can take many forms.Ā
4. Contribution -
Setting Challenges to Others Around You - If you have a friend, family or work WhatsApp group, why donāt you post a daily or weekly challenge? An example and a challenge accepted by a friend group is who can achieve the highest number of steps in the day. This encourages everyone to get outdoors for a short period of exercise and also being active around the house by getting those steps in. I challenge you to think of a challenge to contribute to a group.
Feed The Heroes - You may have already heard of or maybe not but Feed the Heroes is a fundraising page that was set up to help support the frontline healthcare staff in Ireland. This is a way we can make a difference. Any donations, no matter the size will go along way to sustaining our frontline staff, ensuring that they receive meals while working their long shifts. They deserve something like this, for everything that they do. If you would like to help with #fuellingthefrontline you can be donating here. So far, it has raised over 700,000 euro.
Volunteer - If you are in a difficult financial position, donāt forget you can donate your time. This is as good as any financial contribution. The first thing you can do is contact your local volunteer centre. You can click here to find your counties contact details. I have reached out to my local volunteering centre to let them know that I am available to reach out or to make contact via phone with anyone who would like someone to talk to during this time, feeling lonely or feeling scared. Remember to think of the people close to you, family, friends or neighbours. Take a few minutes today to make note of anyone who might fall in that bracket. Donāt forget there are many different ways to volunteer during this challenging time. If you know any of other volunteering services that might need people to reach out please drop me an email [email protected] and I can share the word.
Blogs - I know itās not much compared to some of the other ways people are contributing but my main aim from writing these blogs over the last four days was to reach out indirectly to people who might land on the site, who might read a blog and feel inspired, motivated or learned something new. If it makes a difference to one persons life, I will feel taking the time to writes these blogs was worthwhile. Sometimes, it can be the small things that make a big difference to peoples lives.Ā
I want to leave you with this video of Dublin footballer, Philly McMahon speaking with OTBAM last week, where Philly encouraged young people to take part in the Gaisce award Programme and make a difference to their communities. I will strongly encourage you to watch this video.
Take care,
Gary x
5 Blogs in 5 Days - 2nd April 2020Ā
Happy 2nd of April everyone šĀ Ā - Yes, I did use an upside down smiley face emoji. The reasons for this is, I believe no matter how much my life can be turned upside down I will always find reasons to smile. Today I am going to share with you, opportunities I have created for myself to continue to grow as a person during times with a lot of roadblocks, brick walls and barricades. My third core value is āGrowthā.
3. Growth -
We have many different ways to grow as an individual such as reading, starting new hobbies, overcoming personal fears, setting yourself goals, stepping out of your comfort zone and the list goes on! By having a growth mindset, you can accomplish any goal set out, overcome any challenge in front of you but most importantly continue to grow as a person.
Writing Blogs - Since I am writing a blog, I thought of no better heading to start with. Before the 31st March, I had written one blog, just one blog for DCU. I was always saying to myselfĀ āI didnāt have enough timeā orĀ āWould I be any good at writing?ā. This current situation has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and start writing blogs. Yes, Iām going to make mistakes, not be grammatically correct, repeat myself or talk about something that is only interesting to me. On Tuesday, I set myself the challenge of writing five blogs in five days. And these blogs were going to be based on topics that I am passioned about and feel that others can benefit from what I share. My one promise to myself is that I am going to continue to write blogs beyond the five days. A growth mindset strongly believes that failure is an opportunity to grow, so Iām planning on āfailing my way to successā. And success to me is writing blogs for enjoyment and contributing, supporting and offering advice to others. If anyone has any good tips on writing blogs, please feel free to share with me.
Here is a list of other activities that have allowed me to continue to grow as a person over the last three weeks:
Borrow Box -Ā This app allows members of public libraries and schools to borrow ebooks and audiobooks for a period of time for free. I downloaded the app and I am currently listening toĀ āThe Jersey - The Secret Behind The Worldās Most Successful Teamā. But I do still love to read an actual hardcopy of a book and just finishedĀ āThrough My Eyesā, a book about the life of the former NFL star, Tim Tebow. Next up isĀ āThe Bodyā by Bill Bryson.Ā
Zoom - Yes, Zoom again but this time I am going to tell you how I have used Zoom to continue to offer maths grinds to secondary level students. This took a bit of trial and error and it allowed me to understand and discover about new technology online. I host a class via Zoom, where I can chat with the students. But how do I show the solutions or see the students attempt? Well, I found a website called BitPaper, similar to Microsoft Paint (am I showing my age??š) where all participants can write and view what is on the screen at the same time. Check out the tutorial here. You can also use calls on BitPaper but Iām not entirely sure if this is at a cost? Otherwise, what I use is free. Iām sure I will explore more and discover more about BitPaper. Iāll keep you posted.
Goals -Ā I am sharing with you a list of things that I want to complete before the end of 2020. I decided to write this back in November. Unfortunately due to Covid 19, some of the things on my list have been put on hold but I am determined to complete on some date in the near future.Ā
I wrote these goals as I wanted to discovery new things and to see if I would like something new. I feel this is an excellent way to step out of your comfort zone, become more open minded, challenge yourself and setting goals to allow myself to grow. I am continuing to tackle the list above, but as you can see some challenges are currently put on hold. I can continue to train to run a 10km, write blogs, wake up early (6.30am), read books, volunteer, complete Joe Wicks 90 Day Challenge (I have 30 days to go and yes I failed at this and started from scratch twice but I am determined to complete this), plan more (as Jonny Cooper, a colleague of mine at DCU talked about the importance of planning your day and doing your best to stick to your schedule, if you want to take a listen click hereĀ )Ā and a few more on the list. I plan on writing a blog on this list, to go into more detail in the future. The reason I wanted to talk about goals was to show the importance of writing out your goals and displaying your list somewhere you can see it everyday and remind yourself what you are aiming towards. This will keep you motivated. Lets start some goalscoring!!
Challenge -Ā
As you know by now, I like to set you a little challenge. With a bit more time on your hands, use this time wisely. Instead of Netflix and binging, set a side some time each day, today, tomorrow and the day after to write out some goals you would like to achieve in your life. It can be short term (things can be achieved while being indoors or outdoors for a short period of time for exercise), medium or long term. Your goals can be anything that you want. Fitness, pursuing a passion, setting up a business, starting a podcast, setting a 30 day challenge etc. I would love to hear from you about your goals, how you set goals or any ideas to help me temporarily replace some of my goals. Please feel free to reach out to me via my email, [email protected]. As always, I would be grateful to hear from people. Letting new people into your life and learning from others is another way to grow as a person. Donāt forget to write down your goals and put them somewhere that you will see them everyday.
Finally, donāt allow this current situation to stop you in your tracks. Keep motivated, keep focused and donāt be afraid to adjust or temporarily change your goals to fit the present environment that surrounds us. My final words - believe in yourself because I do!
Take care,
Gary x
5 Blogs in 5 Days - 1st April 2020
With it being April Foolās Day, I thought I would start todays blog off by sharing one of my recent favourite pranks. The 1st of April, of any other year is, jam packed with pranks, jokes, laughs and smiles all-round so I hope Ant and Decās prank on Bradley Walsh gives you a little giggle. Enjoy!Ā šš¤£
Before I start to write about my second core value, āRelationshipsā, I would like to thank everyone who reached out to me via email, re-tweeted my blog or who started my Press Up Challenge for the month of April. Together, we can work through these challenging times by sharing ideas, talking to each other and motivating ourselves and the people around us.
2. Relationships -Ā
We are currently (but not forever) surrounded by negativity on a daily basis, so Iām going to talk about one of the positives during this pandemic. Our relationships. With our families, with our friends, with our partners, with our work colleagues or with university friends. We are probably spending more time with the people we live with or the people we donāt, online. As we seem to have more time on our hands, let's stop procrastinating and letās reach out to friends and family near and far.Ā
Zoom Meetings - People might think Zoom is for online classes, lectures or business meetings only? Zoom is much more than that! This Saturday, I have arranged with a close group of friends (one from Brazil and one from Germany) a Sports Quiz Night, similar to Newstalks Off The Ball - Crappy Quiz. This week, I have volunteered to be the Quiz Master and have created 7 unique rounds to test my friends on their beloved football teams. The following week, one of my friends will host Quiz Night. Check out the video below for quiz ideas for you to host for friends and family. I also have a cousins reunion schedule via Zoom over the next two week, which was expected to take place, in person! Unfortunately, I havenāt seen my girlfriend since the further restrictions were put in place but this hasnāt dampened our spirits. This Friday, we are going to have our first online date. Using Zoom, we plan on watching a movie, with the shared screen option. One of us will have the movie playing on our laptops while the other person can watch it via their own laptop. Check out a tutorial of how to screen share by clicking here.
We can use FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp or even Houseparty to catch up with friends and family or even starting a conversation, if they are sitting next to you.Ā Working, laughing, being creative together, listening and being kind to one another, having patience and helping each other, can all help grow and develop relationships. So I have listed below some activities that you can do together, as a group.
Activities -
Creating a Family Tree
Storytelling
Watching Movies (each time, someone different chooses the movie and nobody is allowed to argueĀ š)
DIY Jobs
Baking and Cooking
Exercising Together (check out my health blog below)
Organising Photo Albums (this gets the memories flowing)
Jigsaws or Board Games
Table Tennis Tournament (if you have the net, bats and pin pong balls, all you need is the kitchen table, or be creative)
Come up with a Business Idea (pretend you are on Dragonās Den)
Challenge -Ā
Before I finish, I would like to challenge you to the emoji challenge below. Give it a go as a team. As a proud Kildare man, it hurts me to be choosing DublinĀ š¤£. Or if the family are up for some nostalgic football quizzes click here.
I hope this blog has allowed you to find some new ways to spend time with friends and family both in person and online.Ā Please feel free to reach out to me at any stages over the coming weeks, if you have any questions, would like any additional resources or challenges or have any tips or advice for me, I would be very grateful to learn for others too. My email is [email protected]. Keep an eye out for my next blogĀ on the third core value, āGrowthā and how I have continued to up-skill, grow as an individual and challenge myself.
Finally, donāt forget to check in with the people around you, neighbours and people who may be living alone during this time. Remember, aĀ āhelloā can go a long way in somebodyās day.
Take care,
Gary x
5 Blogs in 5 Days - 31st March 2020
Hi all,
I hope you and your families are staying safe, indoors and keeping active during this unprecedented time. I am a 2nd Year Student from DCU, where I believe a huge amount of work is being conducted on the DCU campus by many volunteers and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers for their hard work and commitment to the cause. And I would like to thank all the medical staff, nurses and doctors for their courage, strength and hope they give us!
With further restrictions put in place last weekend, it meant our lives were changing even more. Following The Minimalists 5 core values, I managed to be productive, keep active and continue to grow as a person. I wish to pass on any advice, tips or new ideas of things to do and to also learn about new ways to be productive while remaining indoors (or within a 2km radius of your house). Over the next five days, I will write about each core value. Here goesā¦
1. Health -
Studying to become a PE teacher, exercise and sports has always been a passion of mine and I would like to share with you some free online resources to help fight off cabin fever and keep you active and healthy.
Joe Wicks HIIT Training - Joe Wicks aka The Body Coach has a range of sessions on his YouTube challenge that require little or no equipment and range from 12 mins to 40 mins, for both adults and kids (check out his daily PE classes for kids from 9am by clicking here). All you need is yourself, a bottle of water and a little motivation. Remember, exercise can help increase your energy levels, help with relaxation, improve quality of sleep and be healthy for the mind. Iāll leave a beginners HIIT session below.Ā
Yoga with Adriene - With over 6 million subscribers on YouTube, āYoga with Adrieneā is my favourite yoga class to participate in. Classes range from early morning risers to bedtime yoga and classes to tackle every muscle of the body. Adrieneās classes will cater for all abilities and if youāre a dog lover, youāll adore her dog and best friend Bengi. She even has ā30 Days of Yogaā, where you aim to achieve consecutive days of yoga, with all the classes easy to access in one place here.Ā With beginning of April here, this will be a great time to allow yourself the opportunity to try something new or continue to destress during this unpredictable time. Remember, yoga can increase your blood flow, help decrease your blood pressure, help you focus and allow you to smile. Namaste. Below is a 20 mins Full Body Flow that I do on a weekly basis.
Strava - If you need a bit of motivation on your runs (within 2km of your home), download the Strava app here and share your runs with others. The app is an accurate form of tracking your exercise, while becoming competitive with yourself or others online. I use the free version, which does everything that I need. Feel free to follow me and set a goal to beat your PB. I did last week, hitting a 5km under 24 mins!! Kudos to me!
PS - Yoga with Adriene has a pre and post run yoga class. Checkout the pre-run class here.
With a bit more time on my hands, I was able to try out some new recipes.Ā Apple Greek Yogurt and CinnamonĀ is an all day snack but has become my new favourite breakfast!! Menās Health describe it as āthe All-Day Yogurt Super Sundae that can kill any mid-afternoon hunger pangs in 2 minutesā. All you need is the following:
Low-Fat Greek Yogurt (or any type of yogurt that you managed to grab from the shop shelves)
Apple (sliced up)
Flaked Almonds (I use almonds nuts or any type of nut)
Cinnamon
Check out more on the yummy yoghurt here.
Challenge -Ā
Before I finish, I would like to challenge you to a fitness goal. For the month of April, your goal is to complete a set number of pushups on a daily basis. The set number is determined by your age. For example, I am 29 years old and my aim is to complete 29 push ups within the day. You can complete them however you can, if that means doing all in one go or doing half in the morning and the other half in the evening. Quick maths (yes my other subject is Maths), if you are 24 years old, you will complete 720 push ups in the month of April. Check out this link of how to perform a correct push up with modifications.Ā
I hope this blog has allowed you to find some new resources online, get that extra bit of motivation and challenge yourself while being indoors. Please feel free to reach out to me at any stages over the coming weeks, if you have any questions, would like any additional resources or challenges or have any tips or advice for me, I would be very grateful to learn for others too. My email is [email protected]. Keep an eye out for tomorrows blog on the second core value, āRelationshipsā and how it's gives me something to look forward to with catch ups with family and friends online.
Take care,
Gary x
Semester 1
Sunday 28th October 2019Ā
Have you considered returning to university as a mature student? Well, if you have, you have come to the right place and you deserve to give yourself a lot of credit as I know itās a decision that requires much consideration!
My name is Gary Quinn and I am a mature student (2nd Year), studying the Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Mathematics at DCU. And I would like to share with you my journey of how I returned to third level education at the age of 28.
With the DCU Open Day (November 15th and 16th)Ā fast approaching, I couldnāt think of a better place to startā¦
After finally making my decision to return to university, the only question left was which university to attend?..
A few days before the Open Day, I took note of the schedule talk times for Physical Education with Mathematics (DC206), along with the other courses on offer from the School of Health and Human Performance (Physical Education with Biology (DC205), Athletic Therapy and Training (DC204) and Sports Science and Health (DC202)).
When I arrived on the Glasnevin Campus, I was greeted with smiles and a very welcoming atmosphere from students and staff members. After asking a Student Ambassador to direct me to the Lonsdale Building, I arrived to discover that the talk I had planned to attend had ended and I had mixed up the times of the talk (yes, mature students sometimes get things wrong šš¤£). As the prospective students exited, I entered the nearly emptied room to find one of the academic staff remaining. I explained that I had missed the talk but I was very interested in learning more about the Physical Education with Mathematics course.
What happened next, was, the game changer! Miriam Downey, the academic staff member asked me how long had I got? I replied āAs long as needs be.ā I will never forget how kind, considerate and generous Miriam was with her time that day. She asked me what I knew about the course, which I replied with the knowledge I obtained from the research I did in advance of the Open Day. Miriam filled in all the gaps and continued to describe the structure of the course in detail, the modules of each year, a description of the practical elements and the experience of teaching placement throughout the four years. All in all, Miriam spent almost an hour with me. She even did a mini mock interview for my interview, which I had to conduct to earn a place on the course as a mature student.
As I walked back to my car and before I drove out the gates of DCU, Glasnevin Campus, Physical Education with Mathematics (DC206), now sat top of my CAO list. I didnāt want to go anywhere else!! After speaking with Miriam, I couldnāt wait for the opportunity to interview! The Physical Education with Mathematics course was everything I was looking for and much more! Looking back, one of the best decisions I made was to attend the DCU Open Day and when I did, I didnāt allow an opportunity bypass!
I hope to see you at the Open Day on the 15th or 16thĀ November and to be able to direct you to the building where your course(s) of interest talksā are taking place and I will be more than happy to answer any questions about DCU, my course or any of the other courses on offer from the School of Health and Human Performance. Be sure to do some research into your courses of interest and prepare some questions in advance. And donāt be afraid to get some one-on-one time with staff members or current students to delve deeper into the courses and university life at DCU.
Make sure to keep an ear out for the upcoming DCU Podcasts, about the different courses on offer at DCU by the Student Ambassadors. If you have any questions about DCU courses make sure to contact DCU at [email protected].
Hi, my name is Louise and I am a 2nd year International Relations student in DCU
Semester 1 - 2019
11th Sept ā 20th Sept Orientation
Hi everyone and welcome to my first ever blog! Iām Louise, Iām from Belfast and Iām 22 (cue Taylor Swift!). Iām hoping to give you an insight into what I get up to down in Dublin, between lectures, jobs and everything in between. Iām in my second year of International Relations at DCU. Iāll get to that later, but first Orientation Weekā¦
Orientation week is THE biggest week of university. This year we had over 4,000 brand new students coming in, a lovely mixture of new freshers, just out of school, postgraduate students, and people on Erasmus (thatās a year abroad to you and me). When you start at DCU, you get a bag with all the information you could ever needā¦ from my personal favourite, the student planner, to staying safe at night with our new app to the volunteer guide featuring yours truly on the cover! These are all packed by hand so you can imagine how much work goes into that. That happens the week before and orientation kicked off on the 16th September.
I guess, for me, Orientation Week was wheelie, wheelie fun!
Funny storyā¦ I was up at the Giantās Causeway on the Saturday before Orientation week started and I fell overā¦ and broke my ankle. Its fine now but I was in a wheelchair for a week so I could get about. Thankfully, I was working with a great group of people who had fun pushing me around. My main role was explaining to new students about the new timetable system and how you can personalise it. Its safe to say I became very aware of course codes and modules (thatās what we call our subjects at university). I do International Relations, which means I have ten hours of classes a week, so Iām encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities while P.E. and Biology or Maths teaching have quite a few hours in the gym as part of their course, not for me!
Our lovely t shirts
We had lots of buzz on campus, Bank of Ireland had a challenge, Spin 1038 were there, and I managed to get a lovely Leinster rugby backpack. Iām from Ulster but my other half is from Leinster, so he claimed it right away! Orientation Week is hard work but its worth it. You make friends for life from it and the adrenaline is like nothing else.
Said Backpack
I Hope you enjoyed my first blog, next week is all about fresherās week!
Hi, my name is Faith. Let me show you the life of a Mechatronic Engineering student in DCU.
Semester 1 - 2019
Hey guys,
My name is Faith and I am a third year Mechatronic Engineering student in DCU. It should be an interesting year this year so I canāt wait to take you along for the ride!
Mechatronic engineering. Yes, it does sound like a transformer (but honestly it could get you to that stage). Mechatronics means half of your classes are Mechanical and half are Electronics, hence the Mechatronics.
The mechanical side shows you the design aspects of physical objects, whether that be how machines move, materials, heat, and thermodynamics and even how to design awesome mechanical things yourself!
The electronics side brings you into understanding and designing circuits, coding, and computers! So far, I have worked a lot with circuits and components, learned to code in C, C++, Java and Assembly Language and even work with generators, transformers, and microcontrollers!
Mechatronics is very much a combination of both sides and I love it! Electronics is really coming into anything nowadays, from robotics to self-driving cars, the future is wide for mechatronics!
DCU offer courses in āMechanical and Manufacturing Engineeringā, āElectronic and Computer Engineeringā and āMechatronic Engineeringā here if you would like more information: https://www.dcu.ie/engineering_and_computing/eng_direct.shtml
Weekly Recap
W1
Week 1 is one of the best weeks in every year of college (except maybe 1st year due to nervousness!). You get to see all your friends again in one place, there are lots of events run by the Students Union to get everyone back into the college term and get to start new and exciting modules!Ā
In my first week, I went to Freshers Fair (lots of free stuff!), returned to my favourite club: Rock Climbing and found out about my projects for the year ahead; the Fireman Challenge, the ESB Challenge, Mobile Robotics, and New Enterprise Development. All of the above are very exciting and you will definitely see more about these in future blogs!
W2
The first few weeks really gives you an insight into what you will be up to in the year ahead.Ā
The DCU Clubs and Societies Fair was this week. The fair gives all the clubs and societies in DCU whether they are new or old to recruit new members and show off who they are and what they do. This year, I decided to join quite a few; DCU Rock Climbing Club, DCU Drama, DCU Engineering Society, DCU SPARC (Space and Robotics Club) and Fotosoc (Photography). Most of them run awesome casual events where you can go once, which is perfect with my heavy workload for the year!
In terms of academics, a lot of my subjects/modules dived right in this week. I had my Electromechanical Systems lab (see photo below) working with motors, transformers and generators, started work on my Product Design project: āThe Fireman Challengeā. This is probably the most exciting of all of my projects. The brief is to design a mechanism to climb a ladder while holding (and not spilling) a cup or beaker of water! My team spent the week discussing possible solutions, doing some research and analyzing the parts we are required to use(see photo below).
Finally, this week officially began the beginning of our preparations for INTRA (DCUās integrated work placement programme) with some presentations from 4th-year students about their placements and from our INTRA supervisor. In my second semester this year, I will go out into a workplace as an intern for 6 months as part of my course! DCU is very helpful with this and they have provided us with a portal to apply for jobs on so fingers crossed that I will get something good.
I think thatās everything for this week! Iāll leave you with a little collage of some photos I took this week! Stay tuned for the next blog where I will hopefully give you an insider view of the engineering building here :)
Hi all, Iām Ciaran, Iām a Final year MInT student in DCU. Welcome to my blog!Ā
Read more about my course here:Ā https://www.dcu.ie/courses/undergraduate/dcubs/marketing-innovation-and-technology.shtml
Semester 1 - 2019
Chapter 1 - Back to Blue 16/10/2019
Hi friends, I hope youāve all settled back into school and are excited for the year ahead! If youāre reading this blog Iām going to go out on a limb and assume you have an interest in studying at DCU, and more specifically maybe the MInT degree (unless it was my dashing good looks that made you click in).Ā
Iām in my fourth and final year at the moment, which also means Iām just back from my Intra work placement. For those of you who donāt know what Intra is, essentially itās a paid work placement that a lot of courses offer in DCU. If you do my course, your Intra will be 12 months long.... i.e. all of your third year. Intra is not only a fantastic opportunity to gain lots of experience, but also a brilliant way to save up some money so you can be a slightly less poor and struggling student!
^^^ This is definitely the ultimate goal of Intra right?
I did my Intra with ESB and I had absolutely no idea what to expect going in. My role was Employee Engagement and Communications Undergraduate, which basically meant I had to help effectively communicate big things that were happening in the company. I had to organise events, create newsletters and briefs, host learning sessions along with a lot of other weird and wacky and enjoyable things.Ā
Hereās a lully photo of me on my last day attempting my first ever power stance. This office is based in Dublin Airport, and I like to think the first thing a lot of people saw when landing in Dublin for the first time was me in full diva mode thinking Iām Naomi Campbell trying to get the right shot!Ā
But before I started back for final year, I thought I deserved a bit of a holiday, so I was off to Austria for all of August! I stayed in beautiful Vienna where it was 30 degrees every day and to say I was happy out would be an understatement... Even still though I didnāt manage to get a tan :( #gingerproblemsĀ
I wouldnāt have been able to afford this if it werenāt for the money I saved up on Intra, and I really believe the year enhances your whole college experience. And you still have so much time to get involved in other things in the evenings... 10/10 would recommend!Ā
But alas, College was about to start back, and I was really excited to be with all my friends again and really throw myself into final year. So far Iām really enjoying my modules like Marketing Management and Planning, Marketing Communications (Advertising) and High-tech Entrepreneurship to name just a few. The big thing to focus on at the moment is looking for a job. All the graduate programmes are open for applications now, so Iām brushing up the CV and having a look into what I want to do and where I was to be next year... No pressure right?Ā
Coming back to college meant back working as a DCU Student Ambassador, which basically means myself and 50 other students will be representing the University decked out in our blue if you come to visit the University for a tour, or on Open days.... Speaking of which, the DCU open day this year is the 15th and 16th of November so if youāre at all interested in studying with us, come down and learn more about the university and what it has to offer... weāre all very nice I promise!
Thatās all from me for now folks. I hope you enjoyed the blog, and stay tuned for more!
My name is SeƔna and I study Early Childhood Education
Semester 2- 2020
Thursday- 28th May 2020
From PLC to DCU Degreeā¦...well nearly
Hey everyone, I hope youāre all still keeping safe and well!!
Iām back with another blog and this time I am going to talk about PLCs and how doing one has got me where I am today. Lets rewind back to 5 years ago. I had a plan that I wanted to be a primary school teacher for as long as I can remember, the course was quite high points so I decided to apply for a PLC just in case and Iām very glad that I did.
Going on to August 2015 when the CAO offers came out and I didnāt get an offer for what I wanted. Did I feel disappointed? Yes a little but I already had a place on my PLC and I was delighted with that and couldnāt wait to start it.
What is a Post Leaving Cert course?
A PLC course is usually a full-time course for post-secondary students that usually last for a year, depending on what you decide to study. A PLC tends to be great for someone who is looking to gain skills in a specific area, or who is still trying to decide what sort of job or university degree could be best suited to them. It gives you an opportunity to have a somewhat taster ofĀ your chosen area of interest.
For me I chose Early Childhood Care and Education because I thought it was the closest to primary teaching. From this I knew I could go on to do a degree in Early Childhood Education and then complete a masters in education if I still wanted to be a primary school teacher.
Fast forward to May 2016 having completed my PLC and receiving my results I eagerly awaited the CAO offers to come out in early August, and I couldnāt have been happier when they did as I got an offer for the early childhood education course in DCU.Ā
From my expereince in secondary school and even after I felt that PLCs were looked down on a lot, and there wasnāt as much emphasis put on them as there was on degree courses. Like myself not everyone is great at exams, some people excel better with continuous assessment, this is where I found the PLC great as it was a great mix of both concepts! I found that the PLC was a great stepping stone for my degree, it gave me a good grounding of some of the topics that I would study and through work experience I had the opportunity to see what the sector was like. While assignments are quite different from degree assignments it still gives you a chance to learn how to research information and get an idea of academic writing. I also found that after completing my PLC I was more ready to progress into a degree, I was only 17 completing my leaving cert so I do feel like the extra year made a difference.Ā
Before I stop rambling I just want to send the message that sometimes things donāt always go to plan, sometimes you might have to take a longer route to get to where you want to go, but sometimes this route can be better. Personally in my experience I feel that coming to university after a PLC I ended up getting more opportunities and experiences than I would have if I had taken the original route that I wanted to take. For me I feel I have found a passion for working with specific groups of people, for example, those who are experiencing homelessness and this is down to some of the opportunities that I have had throughout my time in DCU.
Before I go we will be hosting Student Ambassador 'live' Q&A sessions everyday between 2-3pm, Monday to Friday for the next few weeks on the following link. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about courses and have students who are studying them answer them and share information with you.
Thatās all for now, Iāll be back with another blog again soon xo
Wednesday- 8th April 2020
Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog xoĀ
Itās been a while but final year has been HECTIC.
Firstly, I know this is a very strange time for us all and I hope that everyone is keeping safe and sane (as can be) during this time.Ā
With a bit of extra time on your hands yano with no school, college, work etc. If youāre planning to head to college in the next academic year or near future,Ā now is the time to do a little bit more research on courses that you have applied or intend to apply for in the future.
So on that note Iām going to give a very brief overview on my course. So if you have read my previous blogs you would know that I am currently a final year early childhood education (BECE) student.Ā
What is the BECE course?
It is a 4 year Level 8 degree, focusing on working with children from 0-6 years. The course prepares you for a range of early education settings and develops your knowledge, competencies and understanding across different aspects of the sector.
You study a wide range of modules throughout the 4 years on the BECE course. You can see details of modules on the DCU website (Iāll link it below).
Why do I like this course so much?
As part of my course we have to take part in placement each year, this is a big part of the BECE course. There are many opportunities to do placements in settings that you might not usually get to work in as a student. Some of these include the likes of Barnardos,Early Childhood Ireland, Family hubs, The Department of Education.Ā
Also there are usually only about 60/70 people in the class, so it is a lot smaller than other courses. Itās good as it gives you the opportunity to get to know everyone in your class and also get to know your lecturers too.Ā
I have thoroughly enjoyed this course over the last four years and would highly recommend it to anyone! I have gained a lot of valuable information that will help me to be the best educator I can be for children.
Thatās all Iām going to ramble on about, I tried to keep it brief. If you have any questions email [email protected]
Link to the course on DCU website: https://www.dcu.ie/courses/undergraduate/institute_of_education/early-childhood-education.shtml
Bye for now and remember stay safe xx
Thursday 30th January 2020
Hello everyone and welcome back x
It has been a while asĀ I have been caught up with exams, on a volunteering trip in Berlin with RAG and starting placement. And thatās all just in the month of January.
The fact it is now semester 2, it means that it is my final semester of my degree. Honestly it flew, I feel like I just blinked and itās nearly all over. It has literally flown by.
Wrap up on Semester 1
Semester 1 was definitely a busy one, but an enjoyable semester all the same! I got involved in lots of new things, as Iāve mentioned in previous blogs and I started my job as a student ambassador. So far it has been amazing and I LOVE talking to prospective students about DCU and my experience here and some of the amazing things that the university has to offer.Ā Overall semester 1 was jam packed but fun all the same! Now that it is over though it officially means I am half was through my final year. The finish line is near....
Starting PlacementĀ
So one of the main things I will be doing this semester is completing my final year placement! This year I am doing my placement in a creche working alongside the management. This is something that I havenāt done before and I am very excited for my placement. I will talk more about placement in a future blog....stay tuned.
DCU and DARE
This is a topic Iād like to mention briefly, as I feel it is an important topic. DARE is the Disability Access Route to Education, students may come through the route for many different reasons. Coming into DCU through there means that you will register with the disability service within the university, in saying that if needs arise and situations change you can register with the disability service here regardless of which route you came into to DCU on.
There are many supports available such as, occupational therapy, counselling, assistive technology, exam supports, academic supports to name a few. The team work closely with you to help figure out what you may need to support you throughout your time in DCU, you may not need anything but the support is always there. And year to year the levels of support that you need may change depending on your circumstances and what you feel you may need.Ā
As a student I have found the team in the disability service more than helpful and they have gone above and beyond to try and help and support as much as they can. I have definitely benefited so much from the supports that I have received throughout my time in DCU and they have been a huge help to me during my studies. Just to note that the service is completely confidential and no one has to know that you are registered. Personally though I like to talk to prospective students about the service from my own experience so that they can hear it from a students prospective, I have done this through school visits and working at the stand at the open days.Ā Ā
More info can be found on the website:Ā https://www.dcu.ie/disability/index.shtml
Iām gonna leave it there as I donāt wanna be boring you all with my rambling.Ā
So until next time...
Peace out x
Semester 1 - 2019
Sunday 10th November 2019
Hello and welcome back to my blog xo
So itās the end of week 7 of the semester, which for me means the end of reading week. Reading week is a week that youāve no lectures and to give you a chance to catch up on some college work!!Ā It also means that we are only a week away from our DCU open days, these days are a great opportunity to meet with staff and students and learn about the range of different courses on offer here in DCU.
Coming to college can be a very daunting experience, new surroundings, new people and if youāre moving away from home actually having to look after yourself! College is also a place where you have to become independent in your learning, no one is gonna come chasing after you or giving you detention if you donāt have your work done.Ā
Without a doubt, college days are definitely some of the best days of your life! (yes I know everyone says that but itās true..) Of course, they can be some of the worst days of your life too, but in my experience, the good weighs out the bad. To help you with the bad days if needed DCU has many supports available throughout all campuses. There are also many quiet spaces on all campuses that allow you to chill/unwind or do some work in a quieter space.Ā
Clubs and Socs
I definitely think itās important to get involved in college life outside of the academic part. As I briefly mentioned in my previous blog DCU has many clubs and societies that you can have the opportunity to join and get involved in! I would HIGHLY recommend getting involved as Iāve said before, it's a great way to meet new friends, get involved in other aspects of college and grow in yourself! On the open day you will have the chance to meet people from some of the clubs and socs that are in DCU.
Okay so on a final note Iām going to talk about the social project that got me involved in DCU RAG (Raising and Giving). It was my second semester of second year and I was given the opportunity to attend RAGās social project School of RAG. Basically, this is a homework club that takes place in a family hub, which is a temporary emergency accommodation for homeless families. Here I started volunteering 2 to 3 times a week for about an hour alongside the staff in the hub helping the children do their homework and then doing some activities with the children, such as science experiments, arts and crafts, painting, games and much more. Seeing the difference that this project made in the children that attended the homework club made my LOVE for this project grow even more. This project gives children time away from their families just for them and with people who are there just for them, it also gave children the opportunity to meet other children living in the hub and play with each other. From this project my love for working with vulnerable children and advocating grew even more. Weāre going to fast forward almost two years later Iām still very involved with RAG and the School of RAG and now I find myself with a part-time job in the hub. Itās amazing the opportunities that you can get as two years ago when I started volunteering there I never imagined that I would actually be working there. While it can be quite tough and emotional at times it is incredibly rewarding.Ā
Right, Iām going to stop rambling on now and leave it there for now. Talk to you all again in my next blog xx
Bye xo
Oh, p.s Donāt forget our open days on the 15th and 16th of November. They are a brilliant opportunity to see the college and talk to people in courses you are interested in.Ā
Friday 18th October 2019
Introductions
Hey guys!! My name is SeĆ”na and Iām currently in final year studying Early Childhood Education. And all going well this time next year I will be awaiting my graduation day.Ā
So the month of September was pretty hectic! Within that month I officially started as a student ambassador. I attended my training and got to meet all my lovely ambo fam (see picture below). I had the wonderful opportunity of talking to prospective students at Higher Options and I loved telling them all about my course and the fabulous things that DCU has to offer!! Some that I will discuss more about in the futureā¦..stay tuned. Also during September I got to work with campus residence, helping the lovely first years move in and also talking to them about my experience of moving away from home. As a culchie moving to the city I know it can be hard sometimes!! But Iāll talk about that again.
So all in all September has been pretty busy between working with the ambassadors, catching up with friends after a long summer, moving back to Dublin and starting final year.
Releasing our spirit animals. Ambo Fam 2019/2020 ;D
Higher Options 2019
Final YearĀ
So itās the end of week 4 and deadlines are fast approaching and dissertation questions are being sought, but itāll be grand. Iāve made it this far now! Iām studying lots of interesting modules this semester which I will talk about in more detail soon but for now weāll just leave the chats about final year there.
Raising and Giving Society (RAG)
So aside from the academic side to DCU they also have many different clubs and societies that you can get involved in and see college life from a different perspective. Societies are a great way to experience and try new things and also make lots of new friends!
Since Iām in final year I decided to dedicate my time to just one society, as over the years in DCU I have been involved in a few, including being in the founding committee of one. This year I thought that I would dedicate my time to RAG. I have SO SO much love for this society and the projects that the run to help people in the local communities surrounding DCU. With my time in RAG I got very involved in their social project School of RAG which basically is a homework club that they started in a family hub (temporary emergency accommodation for homeless families). I will talk about this more againā¦. Iām saying that a lot through this wooops.Ā
This year I was delighted to be elected onto the committee in the position ofĀ āSocial Projects Managerā. In this role I am the main point of contact for each of the social projects that RAG have and I am responsible for ensuring that there is enough volunteers to go to each project every week.Ā
Iām going to stop boring yous now but I will deffo be back to talk about RAG at a later stage because I have an enormous amount of love for the society and would love to share with you all some of the amazing things that they do.
The gorgeous 2019/2020 RAG committee xxx
So thatās all for now and I shall be back soon!!
And I hope to see you all at our open days on November 15th and 16th.
Bye for now xo
ps Donāt forget open days November 15th and 16th - full info:Ā https://www.dcu.ie/studentrecruitment/openday
Hi my name is Orlaith and I study law and society in DCU.Ā
Semester 1 - 2019
4 November 2019
Hey guys, my name is Orlaith and Iām a final year law student in DCU. I canāt quite fathom how fast these last few years have gone but Iāll give you a little overview of whatās happened to get you up to speed.Ā
2016 B.C. (Before College)Ā
5:05 am, August 22nd 2016 to be precise. I canāt sleep. Itās CAO offers day and I have refreshed the offers page continuously for the last hour even though the offers aren't released until 6am. I got the points for my first choice with some to spare but Iām still nervous. When 6am finally rolls around and the offers appear I see that I got my first choice, International Relations in DCU. I cried. I laughed. Then I cried again. I told my parents and my dog and everyone that would listen. Ā After waiting for what felt like F.O.R.E.V.E.R my DCU Welcome Pack arrived in the post. I was starting to think they made a mistake in offering me a place but once it arrived I knew it was real.Ā A new chapter was just about to start.Ā
First Year
On September 13th 2016 I started in DCU. I had my introduction classes and first taste of college life. I got lost in the business building and found another lost soul who quickly became my best friend and as of the start of final year my boyfriend (talk about taking things slow lol). Semester one was a blur of continuing to get lost on the way to lectures, changing course when I realised law was what I truly wanted to study, changing accommodation, making new friends, going out, eating too many Firehouse 5euro lunch deals and starting my first retail job in Nike in Kildare Village. I got pretty sick at the start of semester two but by reading week I was back in the same wonderful whirlwind of balancing my studies, job and social life and attending Law Ball and the Student Races. That summer I went to five festivals and travelled around the East Coast America with some of my best friends. Ā
Second YearĀ
After a wonderful summer I returned to DCU ready to put my head down and work hard. I spent more time in the library and less time going out. On the plus side, the money I saved from going out meant I got to travel more. I went to Edinburgh, Valencia, Liverpool, Paris, Amsterdam with LawSoc and Sweden with the Erasmus Strategy for Change Program. I was elected Class Rep and got the chance to represent my fellow students at Class Rep Council, this was an amazing role and I would recommend it to everyone who was thinking of applying. I started volunteering in Barretstown and developed an immediate love for the place. I was on the Committee for the Humanities Ball and attended my second Law Ball. I spent most of March 2018 building igloos and snow men and watching every episode of That 70s Show. I started applying for internships but wasnāt successful, until I got a call from Matheson offering me an 11 week E-Discovery paralegal position for the summer. This was my first real taste of corporate law and I fell completely in love with it. That summer I got offered an INTRA position in Arthur Cox another corporate law firm in Dublin. Before I started in Arthur Cox, I spent three weeks travelling around Prague, Budapest and Munich and partying for three days at Sziget.Ā
Third YearĀ
I started in the Corporate Department of Arthur Cox without a clue as to what to do or where to go or what to wear. I was terrified beyond belief but it it ended up being the best year of my life so far. I learned so much about the industry, how to conduct myself in a professional environment, how to manage a 9-5 job that often ended up being 60+ hour week with epilepsy and a heart condition and how to be more confident and self assured. In January, I moved to Litigation and took on more responsibility, worked with new teams and learned new skills. I was offered a promotion in May andĀ extended my contract until the end of July. I made some incredible friends and memories in that firm and would love to return in the future as a trainee solicitor. In August, I went to London and then back to America for a month, this time the West Coast, travelling through San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas with my best friends. I came home just in time for Electric Picnic and to get myself set up for Final Year.
Fourth Year
Writing this blog post as a final year student is very strange. Next week I will watch some of my class mates who didnāt go on INTRA or ERASMUS graduate. It doesnāt seem plausible that in 12 months time Iāll (hopefully) be walking across the stage in the Helix collecting my degree, but Iām using that as motivation to study. If it isnāt already obvious, I am a Student Ambassador this year. I wasnāt sure what I was expecting when I applied for the role but itās by far one of the best decisions Iāve ever made (#spon #af #influencer). I get to work with 50 incredible Ambassadors on a range of different events on and off campus and dance all night at ShiteNight before heading to MacDonald's for very serious discussions.Ā
Iām currently working two jobs and balancing my studies, itās hard but I know itāll be worth it. Iām not really sure what final year has in store for me. I have some grad job interviews coming up and Iāll update you with how they go. No matter what happens, Iāll keep trying until something works out, Iāll still think pasta and gravy is a god tier dinner and Iāll still complain about being short.Ā
Ā This week I have reading week, which is similar to midterm where we catch up on readings and work!
Ā First of all I want to talk about something that I think is really important not only in journalism but also in college.. time management. I think itās just as important in college as it would be in the Leaving Cert in order to get good grades and not to be too stressed out at the end of the year. Weeks after reading week get much busier as assignments start to pile up slowly, so you have to make sure you give yourself a good amount of time to get everything done. In the communications courses this can be done a little better than in courses that are more based on exams, as you will probably have continuous assessments (assignments that you will have to submit along the way) rather than just submitting everything at the end of the semester. However, there will be one or two subjects (modules) that you will have to hand everything in during your last month in college so itās best to get in the habit of doing things bit by bit.
Ā Your assignments usually get gradually harder or longer as the semester goes by, so again, leaving everything last minute is naturally going to stress you out more. This week while I'm not in college I sat down and made sure I get the things I maybe haven't been doing to date done, such as certain readings or things I've put off, because I know once I go back there will be new things to get done and it will eventually start to pile up. Having a diary, my one above is the DCU diary and planner that really helps me check stuff off my list during busy times and ensures I write down what I need to get done for each day and helps me stick to it. Believe me, once you get into the habit of doing this it will help you straight away in college to keep you on top of your work and then give you more time for extracurricular activities or just to chill with your friends, without worrying about what you haven't done yet!
Ā With that out of the way.. I have to mention that after reading week thereās less than a month of college left until its study time for exams! For any communication students but especially journalism students, your summer in second year would be good to spend doing some work experience even if itās for two weeks, and the time to look is now! Iām going to be looking locally first, in Meath for some work experience in a local newspaper or radio to further try to expand what Iāve learned in the classroom and put it into practice. Even if you are thinking of doing a journalism course but youāre not fully sure or you are sure but still donāt know what it would be like to work as a journalist and want to experience some of it before committing to a course, thereās no harm in contacting your local newspaper or radio and getting a work shadow day to see whatās itās like. Most places are very welcoming and if you say you are thinking of a career in the industry after school and want to see whatās it's like, most places will offer you a work shadow place. So, donāt be afraid to ask for those, in any industry you might want to go into as it will really give you a great insight into what you actually do in a certain position, and help make up your mind about your future.
Hope some of this will be helpful for any in the future and thanks for reading!
Ā Kinga x
Ā Friday 14th February 2020
Welcome back to my blog!
It has been ages since I wrote my last blog as it was just before Christmas! I had a long break, almost a month and a half, and during that I went on my first Journosoc (journalism society) trip to Lisbon! I had such a good time, made a lot of new friends and visited RTP which is a Lisbon state broadcaster (like RTE here). We got lucky with the weather, so it was a lovely time off that was also well needed after a busy semester one! My favourite part was probably visiting the TV station as we got such a great insight into how live TV works. We got to go behind the stage of a live entertainment show and a presenter doing live news which I had never seen in real life before, and honestly at that moment Iāve never been more excited to hopefully graduate, and hopefully do that someday! Another thing I loved was getting to know some of the third-year journalism students more. I think itās such a great way to learn more and get any questions you might have about modules or different stages of the course answered. Similarly, if you are curious about a course in DCU donāt be afraid to go up to students at Open Days and ask them any amount of questions about it, itās the best way to find things out as they are people who have already experienced it and they are always more than happy to tell you everything you want to know.
An original radio studio in RTP museum from the 1950ā²sĀ
Portuguese news anchor presenting live.
News studio in RTP
On another note... I'm already three weeks into semester two, which is crazy! The modules I have this semester are video journalism, advanced reporting, photography, news design (optional: chose from photography, news design and data journalism) crime, policing and the media (again optional: crime., sport society and the media and comparative european studies). So far, I'm loving video journalism and advanced news reporting the most as I always thought of going into broadcast journalism and Iām not going to lie, using the professional cameras is so much fun too! On the other hand, I love advanced news reporting because itās a vital module for journalists and really helps you think more about what news/stories are and what they should be. I also liked how we got to choose optional modules this semester too, it gave you an option to do something youāre more passionate about and maybe leave things that you're not too keen on.
Professional video cameras used for the video journalism module
During the Christmas break I also did a work shadow day with the mentorship programme. My mentor Pat OāMahony, brought me to RTE Gold for a morning while he was doing a live music programme. It was such a good learning experience and such good fun (yes, I finally got a shutout on the radio). I loved that I got to see what actually happens in a live radio studio and how Pat prepares for it. I got a lot of tips and tricks for presenting as well as technical things. I also got brought in to learn how radio archives are kept in RTE and got the whole process explained. I would highly recommend applying for a mentorship programme in second year as it honestly helped me so much in terms of what I think happens and the reality of what happens, for example in a radio studio and gave me great insight into the world of work.
Pat and I in the RTE Gold studio
Before I get carried away again, I will end my first blog of 2020 here!
Until next time,
Kinga
Xo
Semester 1 - 2019
Tuesday 26 November 2019
Hello again!
I start my blog with this every time butā¦. I canāt believe itās almost December! I only have 3 weeks of college left but a good few assignments left to do. However, I really liked the modules I was doing this semester so I think thatās why it went by so fast. The end of November, and start of December is a really busy time in college and you will notice that as the library will be starting to be full everyday from now on. This semester I only have one exam, as most of the journalism course is based on continuous assessment, meaning throughout the semester you might have to submit various assignments that merge into the overall grade. Itās much different to secondary school, where you depend on one exam, which I personally didnāt like that much. For example, I have a module called Radio Newsroom where each week our lecturer sits in our radio studio which is in the Henry Grattan building on the Glasnevin campus, while we do a live radio show ranging from 15-20 minutes. Throughout the semester he then judges how we were improving our skills. Along with that, we have to do a vox pop assignment where we go out and ask people questions and then include it on our show, and forĀ our last assignment we do a live programme including news, entertainment, sports, human interest and include a guest to talk about a certain subject. Iāve found that this module to be really fun as you pick your groups and can basically have a chat about current affairs with your friends each week while at the same time learning how to be a radio presenter, producer, reporter in a professional radio studio. The Journalism course has a lot of that practical element as well as a bit of theory and exams for example for Media Law, so youāre never bored!Ā
Iāve also looked forward to our Case studies in Investigative Journalism Studies every week as we had some very famous Irish investigative journalists come into us to talk about their work, give us tips and answer any questions we had! So far we had the wonderful documentary maker for RTE, Sheila Ahern and with The Irish Times public affairs editor Simon Cartswell. This week we also had Colm Keena from the Irish Times, who is the Legal Affairs Correspondent there and also a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) who he won a Pulitzer award for the Panama Papers, and who just a day before he met us alongside the ICIJ broke the biggest investigative story around the world calledāChina Cablesā. Learning from experts in the field is such a great way as your getting a great insight into what you too could possibly be doing after you graduate from DCU. I think the connections that DCU has especially in the world of media are brilliant, as you can see from all of the guest lecturers weāve had so far.Ā
Sheila Ahern giving a talk to our journalism class, photos and details of the guest lecturers can be found on the School of Comms DCU @DCU_SoC Twitter page.Ā
In regard to things iāve been doing after my lecturers, I actually started writing some articles for DCUās fashion, culture and lifestyle magazine which is published by students. Itās such a great way to start writing and getting your work out there, especially if your interested in lifestyle and fashion journalism! All the articles can be found online at: http://www.thelookdcu.com/.Ā I also became the editor for the blog section for The Media Production Society, which again is such a great way to write about any topic youāre interested while getting better and improving your writing! You can read the blogs here: https://dcu-mps.com/blog. You might think you wonāt have time to do all these extra things along with college work but blogs or articles are around 400-500 words and usually takes me around an hour to do one as when you pick a topic youāre interested in itās easier to write about. Getting involved in things like this is so much fun as you can be really creative with that you write about but can also be great for when youāre out of college as you have a lot of examples of work you can show when applying for jobs.Ā
I will be back to update you on how all my assignments went before the end of the year!Ā
Thanks for reading,
KingaĀ
x
Tuesday 22 October 2019
Hi guys!Ā
I canāt believe itās almost a month since I wrote my first blog. Time is really flying by this semester and itās just going to happen more, as assignment deadlines are starting to approach. There are only two weeks left until Reading week, which is a week similar to midterm, where you catch up on all the work or readings you haven't done yet in the semester, and itās also usually the time to get started on some assignments which might be due after. Lets not forget though, itās also Halloween next week and itās really starting to feel like Autumn.
Ā I took some photos on a walk!Ā ššš
So far, I'm really enjoying second year. There has been a new module added to the course which is called Case Studies in Investigative journalism. Iām so excited for the upcoming weeks as we will have many Irish investigative journalists coming in to talk to us about their work which will be really interesting! Iāve also loved a module we have thatās all about feature writing. We have to write a profile feature on someone interesting and I have been working really hard on it for a couple of weeks now! I chose to do mine on a Pagan witch/priestess from Meath called Janet Farrar, who is a leading author of neo-pagan books on witchcraft. I was researching so much about paganism as well as her life and it has probably been my favorite assignment so far because I learned so many things I didn't know. I think that's why a journalism course is so good, because you are constantly meeting and talking to new people and learning something new everyday. A profile focuses more on the people who know them or worked with them rather than the person themselves, so I interviewed a friend of hers, (also a pagan witch) Barbara, which was the best interview I've had so far. I learned that witches are more like spiritual healers and worship God through nature, and their focus is kindness, rather than anything āevilā or scary that we would often associate the word āwitchā with.Ā
This is Janet in her ceremony clothes along with her husband Gavin.Ā
Finally I got involved with DCU FM which is a radio station we have here in DCU. You can get involved in it if you join the Media Production Society (MPS). I filled out an application form just last week, describing a show that I would like to do. It included name description and what the structure would be! Itās that simple to get involved. You send your application through their Facebook page and you get an email if you get a slot during the week. My radio show this year is called āSpill the Tā, and it focuses on talking about interesting human interest stories, current topics in the news and of course some celebrity gossip! In the first half an hour we talk about the āhot teaā which is more serious topics or news stories, and in the second half the ācool teaā we talk about soft news and celebrities. I also have a module which is called Radio Newsroom, this semester, so this is a perfect example of how DCU allows you to have theory and lectures and then societies that help you practice that outside of college hours. It really helps you to get a job after college,since you will already have both theory and practice in the field when you leave DCU!
I also applied to do a mentorship programme that DCU Careers Service offers second years and luckily got it! This is a programme where you can get teamed up with a DCU employee or alumni that can mentor you and help you sort out what you want to do, how to do it and where to start after you graduate. They also help you with CV interview skills etc. I am so excited as I got Pat Oā Mahony, who is a TV presenter/producer, radio host and journalist. I think this is such a great opportunity to really work on skills you need, confidence and get all the questions you ever had about the industry answered by someone who has experienced it! This is available for all courses, not just media, so that students can figure out things and gain more skills before going into the workplace!
Iām off to do some more research on witches, and sort out my Halloween costume! š» I will be back with another blog very soon!Ā
KingaĀ
XxĀ
ps Donāt forget the DCU open days are coming up Nov 15/16th
Tuesday 1st of October
Hey guys!
Iām Kinga and iām a second year journalism student from Meath. Iām so excited to be finally writing my first ever blog telling you all about how the first two weeks starting back in college have been for me. I canāt believe iām going into second year and how its already October, time flies by!
Going back to college is as much exciting as it is nerve wrecking for me. You forget the routine you were in after 4 and a half months of summer, so getting back into in can be a little tough. I commute to college everyday from Meath, which takes me approximately an hour and 10 minutes one way, so getting back into that itself takes time. I get a lot of questions about commuting and if I like it, but in my opinion it depends on the person. Some like it, some hate it, but for me its honestly fine. I do a lot of my readings on the bus or listen to podcasts and music, so I feel like time goes by quick enough. The only thing I can say it it can make you a little bit more tired, but in my opinion the thought of it is worse than it actually is. I couldnāt wait to come back as a lot of my college friends live all around Ireland, so seeing them during the summer was harder than i expected! I made some wonderful friends last year so it was really nice to finally meet up and catch up.
I was also excited to start back in college this year as I knew I was going to get way more involved into clubs and societies and the student newspaper āThe College Viewā than i did last year. I made the mistake of solely focusing on my college work as I wanted to focus more on my results in first year but I soon realised at the end of the second semester, that once I got more involved, it made me so much happier in college and helped my results. So I went to the clubs & societies fair (that happens during the second week of first semester) and singed up to Fotosoc - photography society, MPS - media production society and DCUStyle society for this year. There was so many clubs and societies to choose from that I had to tell myself to be realistic in how many I can join and get involved in. My goal is to get really involved in radio, TV and the style society magazine āThe Lookā this year. Iām hoping it will help me with my college work and help me decide on what exactly I want to do when I leave college, as a journalism degree gives you so many options!
So iām off to get stuck back into college work and societies, but ill give you an update on how its all going very soon!
Kinga
xx
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