As school leavers put the State exams behind them this week, the road ahead for Leaving Cert students looks more uncertain than ever. However young people in Ireland still have a huge amount to offer and should be optimistic about the future and prepare wisely, according to Castlebar based career guidance counsellor Tony Deffley.
As chairman of Mayo Teachers Union of Ireland branch and guidance counsellor at Davitt College, Mr Deffley has more than 20 years’ experience helping young people prepare for the future. Given the current recessionary times his top tip to school leavers right now is to continue their studies and further their education with a view to securing quality employment once the job market improves.
“The consensus now is that people should try to study their way through the recession and I think that’s wise. The tide goes in and the tide goes out and it just happens to be out at the moment as there doesn’t appear to be a huge amount of jobs in prospect, so young people are as well to use their time productively by bettering themselves.
“Previously there would have been a wider range of apprenticeships available which a substantial number of people would have wanted as they would prefer to be more practically than academically occupied. But now there is a lot of concern because these are the people who are hit by this recession because of the decline in the building sector.”
Mr Deffley does not believe it is all about selecting in-demand CAO courses either.
“The point about choosing courses is like any choice you make in life. Every choice comes with a price so there isn’t anything such as the perfect option. People should try to make the most intelligent choices that they can and that’s how people make their way in life and find direction. Usually the worst possible choice is not making a choice at all.”
Recognising the importance of giving young people a positive sense of the future, Mr Deffley said that even with some 400,000 unemployed, there is a responsibility on the Government to provide training opportunities for young people and to avoid sending all of our young people overseas.
“As it stands I get e-mails from students all over the world who are making a great contribution, and while certainly we don’t want to lose our young people we do have to recognise there will be a lot of movement for a while, and hopefully they will come back to us in time. In the meantime training courses are needed as otherwise we will end up with a skills deficit.”
His counsel in regard to course choices is that all options should be looked at.
“Some years ago I sat on the Points Commission Review and we noted that while there is huge demand for specific college places, which guarantee high earnings, this does not apply to college places in general. But if you look at the points on some courses in institutes of technology or some of the excellent PLC courses these aren’t always difficult to get into and some can be very useful.”
Following his own counsel Tony Deffley is even furthering his own studies at the moment as he works on a master’s in education and management. Meanwhile, with schools now officially out for summer, his strongest message is to get out and enjoy the sunshine.
“Enjoy the summer and relax. The results won’t be out for almost another two months so there’s no need to just sit and hold your breath. Go on out there and enjoy the summer. This is your time to relax!”
In the continuing spirit of optimism he added that the very finest of young people are leaving school nowadays, who are very educated, very talented. “Given half a chance at all they will make the world a better place.”
