Advice for my 16 year old Self...2

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?
Breath and smile.

Online learning constrains the traditionally broad sweep of transition year

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

I am a student in transition year and in this essay, I’m going to outline why, in my opinion, online learning is the antithesis of the meaning of the TY experience.

It seems to me that in TY, teachers set out to do one of two things: either (a) prepare for the Leaving Cert, full steam ahead, or (b) chew through the hour as painlessly as possible, covering material chosen only for its unquestionable appropriateness to class, but without care as to whether the material holds any interest or entertainment value, or value for the students’ practical lives. It is naïve to think that we may cover any material that holds an effective value for future exams, because anything valuable taught to students now will be taught again in fifth year. Students know this, so trying to teach educationally valuable but uninteresting material to TY students is a futile endeavour, and it is lazy to think otherwise. The result is disengagement from students.

The ups and downs of lockdown as a student

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Over the past 10 months society has been swallowed up in this tsunami called Covid, and as everyone knows the students of the world have been locked away and forced into an impersonal, harsh, shadow of their reality. As one of the misfortunate students, I would like to share my experiences over the past two lockdowns.

On March 12, 2020, we were sent home for what was initially a two-week lockdown, little did we know we would not set foot in school until the following September. Remote learning was a very new and foreign idea to most of us, and I spent the first few weeks of lockdown on many late-night group facetime calls and Xbox parties.

Advice for my 16 year old Self...3

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Q. What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Greater leadership needed for those teaching through a crisis

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

“Any fool can handle a crisis, it’s this day-to-day living that wears you down.”

Are you feeling powerless at the moment?

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Many people, both students and adults feel powerless and it may be due to some of the following:

Heyday Student Living is Dublin’s newest custom-designed student accommodation

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Heyday is revolutionising the world of student accommodation by putting the needs of students first. It is designed to offer the perfect balance of work, rest, and play.

GMIT launches four new PhD research scholarships in partnership with the Marine Institute

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

GMIT’s Research and Innovation Department has announce four new Cullen Scholarship projects. Each project offers exciting opportunities to suitably qualified graduates to undertake funded PhD research in marine science and biodiversity conservation in the west.

Advice for my 16 year old Self...4

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?
I suppose the advice I’d give to any 16-year-old on educational matters is that the Leaving Cert is the hardest thing you’ll ever do. Get through it and go on to experience college life and the life learnings it provides. Don’t worry so much about the course points as there are lots of different avenues to get into college. We are very lucky in Athlone with AIT on our doorstep and all it has to offer.

Choosing subjects for senior cycle

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

There are lots of factors to consider when choosing your subjects for senior cycle, so it is extremely important to do your research and make informed decisions. Choosing subjects for Leaving Certificate is crucial to ensuring you achieve the best result you can in your Leaving Certificate.

Horticulture is blooming in Galway Community College

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

The QQI Level 5 horticulture course in Galway Community College offers students the chance to acquire a vast knowledge of many different aspects in the amazing world of horticulture. Huge emphasis is placed on plant identification and students spend some time each week learning and identifying new plants. Another great way to learn plants is to work with them, and from September until the following May students maintain the great collection of plants in GCC.

Craft Butchery Apprenticeship

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Are you creative and passionate about meat, food, and retail? This two year craft butcher apprenticeship programme leads to a Level 5 QQI qualification and is delivered on the job in your workplace (86 per cent) and off the job at a training centre (14 per cent).

Advice for my 16 year old Self...6

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Q. What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Discover a meaningful career at Cisco

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Since it first opened in Galway in 2007, Cisco has had a strong emphasis on supporting and hiring graduates and interns, as well as promoting STEM as a career choice among students. A world leader in networking and cybersecurity, the company can offer an exciting and rewarding career path.

"Even in our initial hiring we had a big focus on graduates and interns," said Keith Griffin, site leader at Cisco Galway. "As we were starting those interns were graduating, and they became the first employees of Cisco in Galway. There has always been that focus on early career and intern hiring."

'Inspiring You' to use social media less

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Music and song can soothe the soul. Something we can all do with during this time. Galway based platform Inspiring You has gone one step further and organised a song competition for school students of all ages with the iconic Dublin balladeer Damien Dempsey. The theme of the competition is "sing all your cares away," with the winning entry receiving a class visit from Dempsey.

Choosing the right third level or further education option for you

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

When choosing a course/career after the Leaving Cert there are a multitude of questions which need to be asked and decisions which need to be made.

A computer science degree can unlock amazing career opportunities

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Since the dawn of the smartphone, we have seen a explosion of software-based innovations hosted in the cloud and delivered via mobile, that are now engrained as part of our daily lives. It’s been stated that “software is eating the world”, from Zoom to Snapchat to Netflix, software really is all around us. Our lives have become more intertwined with computer and mobile applications and it didn’t happen by magic. The most popular applications that we use on a day-by-day basis came from the minds of brilliant computer sciences graduates.

Why study an arts/humanities degree

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

One of the questions that I have been asked most often is, "What kind of a career/job can I get if I study an arts degree?” The best way to start is to look at who is best suited to study an arts degree.

Employers value graduates who have an arts degree, many employers do not specify what type of degree you have, they are more interested in the key critical skills that you have acquired while studying an arts degree

Advice for my 16 year old Self...7

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Q. What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Apply for your CAO registration number today

Thu, Jan 14, 2021

For the 70,000-plus potential applicants to the CAO this coming year, and particularly for the almost 50,000 Leaving Certs, who are currently considering their application, the uncertainty created by the closure of all schools and colleges has given rise to much anxiety, stress, and uncertainty.

What is certain is that the CAO has set next Wednesday January 20 as the final date by which applicants can register this year for €30. After that date, and until the standard closing date of Monday February 1, the application fee increases by €15 to €45.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.