My 91制片厂 Story - Ava Prendergast
Name: Ava Prendergast
Programme: BA in Education, Gaeilge and Business Studies
Campus: Thurles
鈥嬧嬧嬧嬧嬧嬧媃ear: 3
Inis beag谩n d煤inn f煤t f茅in.
Haigh a chairde!
Is mise Ava, is as Contae Laoise m茅. T谩im bliain is fiche d'aois agus t谩im sa 3煤 bhliain anseo i gCol谩iste Mhuire gan Sm谩l (CMgS) i nDurlas. T谩im ag d茅anamh staid茅ar chun a bheith i mo mh煤inteoir Gaeilge agus Gn贸. D鈥檉hreastal m茅 ar Scoil Chr铆ost R铆 i bPort Laoise sular th谩inig m茅 anseo.
Faoi l谩thair t谩im ag comait茅ireacht agus t贸gann s茅 timpeall 40 n贸im茅ad gach l谩. T谩 an t-谩dh orm go bhfuil seirbh铆s铆 traenach agus an m贸tarbhealach c贸ngarach domsa .B铆m ag tiom谩int cuid is m贸 den am, mar n铆 oibr铆onn an traein le mo chl谩r ama.
T谩 cuid is m贸 de mo chairde ag comait茅ireacht ar an traein n贸 ar an mbus, m谩s as Tiobraid 脕rann iad. T谩 CMgS Durlas inrochtana, agus is c煤is iontach eile 茅 chun CMgS a phiocadh!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I鈥檓 Ava, from County Laois. I鈥檓 21 and in my third year at 91制片厂 Thurles where I鈥檓 studying to become an Irish and Business Studies post-primary teacher. I attended Scoil Chr铆ost R铆 before beginning my journey here in 91制片厂 Thurles.
Currently I commute to college. It takes me about 40 minutes each day, both ways. I鈥檓 fortunate enough that I have both a train service and a direct motorway that I can avail of to get to college. However, I tend to drive the majority of the time as the train runs every two hours and often doesn鈥檛 line up with my lecture times.
A lot of my friends commute via the train or even bus if they are from Tipp. 91制片厂 Thurles is very accessible in that way, which is another great reason to pick 91制片厂!
C茅n f谩th ar roghnaigh t煤 91制片厂?
Roghnaigh m茅 CMgS mar bh铆 s茅 mar cheann de na Col谩ist铆 amh谩in a bh铆 in ann mo dh谩 谩bhar a chur ar f谩il leis an oideachas i gc茅im cheithre bliana. T谩 athr煤 m贸r tagtha ar mo ch茅im teagaisc agus socr煤ch谩in sa d谩 谩bhar a chr铆ochn煤 laistigh de cheithre bliana.
Th谩inig m茅 go dt铆 an L谩 Oscailte agus na Laethanta Eisp茅ireas na Mac L茅inn anseo ar an gcampas. Bhraith CMgS cos煤il le teaghlach m贸r lena ranganna beaga, an timpeallacht chairdi煤il agus an t-eolas faoi na h谩bhair 茅ags煤la. Tar 茅is a bheith ag labhairt le roinnt mac l茅inn agus a gcuid tuairim铆 agus taith铆 a fh谩il, bh铆 a fhios agam go raibh CMgS an 谩it domsa!
Why did you choose 91制片厂?
I chose 91制片厂 at the time because it was one of the only colleges that offered my two subjects, Gaeilge and Business Studies along with an Education degree all wrapped up into four years. Completing my teaching degree and placements in both subjects within four years was a game changer.
I came along to both the Open Days and Student Experience Days here on campus. The small classrooms, friendly environment and walk through of all the subject options made 91制片厂 feel like one big family. After speaking with some students and asking them for their opinions and experiences, I knew 91制片厂 was the place for me!
An raibh s茅 茅asca aithne a chur ar dhaoine agus cairde nua a dh茅anamh?
Is pobal beag muid anseo i CMgS Durlas. Faoi l谩thair t谩 timpeall 600 mac l茅inn anseo, uimhir at谩 n铆os l煤 na mo shean me谩nscoile Gan dabht, m谩 fheiceann t煤 na daoine c茅anna gach uile caithfidh s茅 a bheith 茅asca cairde a dh茅anamh, laistigh agus lasmuigh do ch煤rsa.
Bh铆 an t-am is fearr agam ag d茅anamh cairde anseo, tr铆 sp贸rt, clubanna agus cumainn 茅ags煤la. Is cuma m谩 t谩 aithne agat ar dhaoine nuair a thagann t煤 isteach n贸 nuair a thagann t煤 i d'aonar, t谩 cara, gr煤pa n贸 cumann do ch谩ch anseo ag CMgS.
Has it been easy to get to know people and make new friends?
91制片厂 Thurles is a small community. Currently there are just over 600 students here, which is smaller than my old secondary school. Undoubtedly, seeing the same people every day makes it quite easy to make friends, both within and outside of your own programme.
Through sports, clubs and societies, I have had the best time making friends here at 91制片厂. Whether you know people when you join or come on your own, there is a friend, a group or a society for every student here at 91制片厂.
Cad 茅 an rud is m贸 a thaitn铆onn leat faoi shaol an chol谩iste?
Is a bheith bainteach le saol na mhic l茅inn an rud is fearr liom faoin gcol谩iste! T谩im mar Oifigeach Gaeilge le Aontas na Mac L茅inn (MISU) faoi l谩thair. Tr铆na bheith mar chuid den fhoireann sacair agus an Cumann Gaelach anseo t谩 m茅 tar 茅is 茅ir铆 n铆os muin铆n铆.
N铆 th茅im amach go minic 鈥 n铆 maith liom na tithe t谩bhairne n贸 na clubanna o铆che. Is bre谩 liom a bheith ag glacadh ph谩irt, 谩fach, agus creidim an-l谩idir san abairt 鈥業s 茅 saol an Chol谩iste a dh茅anann t煤 茅鈥. T谩 baint agam leis na clubs agus socs anseo i nDurlas 茅ile agus chomhbhunaigh m茅 an Drama Soc! Is bre谩 liom an taobh s贸isialta de Shaol an Chol谩iste!
What do you love about college life?
Being involved with student life has by far been the best thing about college! I鈥檓 currently the Irish Language Officer for the 91制片厂 Students鈥 Union (MISU). Through being part of the soccer team and the Cumann Gaelach here I have become more confident and outgoing.
I don鈥檛 really go out 鈥 the pubs and the clubs aren鈥檛 for me. I love being involved in college life and I hold a very strong belief in the saying that 鈥楥ollege is what you make it鈥. I鈥檓 heavily involved in the clubs and societies here in Thurles, I even co-founded the Drama Soc here. The social aspect of college life is what I love the most!
Cad 茅 an rud is m贸 a thaitn铆onn leat faoi bheith ag staid茅ar in 91制片厂?
Is bre谩 liom a bheith ag staid茅ar anseo mar ceangla铆onn s茅 mo phaisean don Ghaeilge agus staid茅ar gn贸 le deiseanna iontacha. Bainim an-taitneamh as mo scileanna teanga a fheabhs煤 agus a bheith ag foghlaim faoi chult煤r na h脡ireann go laeth煤il.
B铆onn na l茅acht贸ir铆 thar is a bheith tac煤il agus sochaideartha i gc贸na铆, rud a dh茅anann difr铆ocht ollmh贸r domsa! Is 谩it chomh dearfach agus inspior谩ideach 茅 chun a bheith ag foghlaim agus le f谩s!
An Buaicphointe is m贸 is at谩 ann n谩 an socr煤ch谩n scoile. Is deis 茅 an m茅id a d鈥檉hoghlaim m茅 a chur i bhfeidhm agus taith铆 phraitici煤il mh煤inteoireachta a fh谩il. Ba 茅 an rud is fearr den ch煤rsa anseo i CMgS Durlas n谩 an socr煤ch谩n scoile. Sol谩thra铆onn spreagadh 贸 theagasc贸ir铆 eisp茅ireas tac煤il. Is f茅idir leis an ualach oibre a bheith d煤shl谩nach uaireanta, ach is ruda铆 iontach iad an caidreamh, an taith铆 agus na ceachtanna a fhaigheann t煤 agus t煤 ar do shocr煤ch谩in.
What do you love about studying at 91制片厂?
I love studying at 91制片厂 because it combines my passion for Irish and Business Studies with amazing opportunities. The Irish modules are so engaging, and I really enjoy improving my language skills while learning about Irish culture.
The lecturers are incredibly supportive and always approachable, which makes an enormous difference. 91制片厂 also has great resources and a lovely community of like-minded students. It is such a positive and inspiring place to learn and grow!
School placement is a highlight 鈥 it is so rewarding to apply what I have learned and get hands-on teaching experience. It has by far been the best element of the programme here in 91制片厂 Thurles. The encouragement you get from your placement tutors as well as the small core student groups leads to a supportive experience. Whilst the workload can be challenging and overwhelming at times, the relationships, experience and lessons you gain whilst on placement are so worth it.
Cad a thaitn铆onn leat a dh茅anamh nuair a bh铆onn am le sp谩r谩il agat?
T谩im ag comait茅ireacht. Cialla铆onn s茅 sin go bhfuil m茅 sa leabharlann le linn mo chuid ama saor (at谩 chomh cluthar, agus t谩 foireann na leabharlainne cos煤il le teaghlach) n贸 i mo charr. T谩 go leor siopa铆, caif茅 agus bialanna anseo sa bhaile a d鈥檉h茅adfainn dul chucu le haghaidh Matcha n贸 spota l贸in a fh谩il mura bhfuilim gn贸thach le m鈥檕bair ch煤rsa n贸 le dualgais an Chumainn!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Spare time in the College when commuting means I鈥檓 either in the College library (which is so cozy and warm, and the library staff are like a second family) or in my car. There are plenty of coffee shops and restaurants here in town that I might go to for a matcha or a spot of lunch if I鈥檓 not busy with my coursework or society duties.
Cad ba mhaith leat a dh茅anamh nuair a bheidh do ch茅im bainte amach agat?
Tar 茅is mo ch茅ime a bhaint amach, ba mhaith liom mo Dhroichead a dh茅anamh! Ina dhiaidh sin ba bhre谩 liom filleadh ar ais ar an staid茅ar san ardoideachas agus mo mh谩istreacht n贸 b鈥檉h茅idir rud 茅igin eile a dh茅anamh.
What would you like to do after your graduate?
After graduation I definitely want to get my Droichead done! Following that I would love to return to studies at higher education and pursue a Master鈥檚, or something further possibly.
C茅n chomhairle a chuirfe谩 ar dhuine a bheadh ag smaoineamh tabhairt faoin staid茅ar in 91制片厂?
Beidh s茅 seo bun煤sach, ach is 茅 mo chomhairle n谩 鈥楧ean 茅鈥! T谩 go leor c煤iseanna iontacha ann chun a bheith i do mh煤inteoir n贸 chun staid茅ar a dh茅anamh anseo i CMgS Durlas. Is col谩iste uath煤il muid 鈥 fanann muid beag 贸 thaobh uimhreacha ach t谩 aitheantas m贸r againn.
What advice would you give to anyone considering studying at 91制片厂?
This is going to sound basic, but my advice is to just do it! There are so many amazing reasons to become a teacher or to study here at 91制片厂 Thurles. We are such a unique college 鈥 we remain small in numbers but mighty in recognition.
Ag cuimhneamh siar ar an am nuair a bh铆 t煤 ag l铆onadh isteach d鈥檉hoirm CAO agus i mbun na hArdteistim茅ireachta, cad a d茅arf谩 anois leis an duine sin?
Cuir muin铆n sa phr贸iseas, coinnigh d鈥 aigne oscailte, agus b铆odh s茅 ar fhios agat go bhfaighidh t煤 an cos谩n ceart.
Glac le gach deis at谩 agat, go h谩irithe na cinn a chuireann eagla ort - is iad na cinn a chabhr贸idh leat. Agus cuimhnigh air seo, n铆 bheidh gach rud bunaithe ar an gc煤rsa a roghna铆onn t煤; baineann s茅 leis a taith铆 a fhaigheann t煤, na daoine a bhuaileann t煤, agus na cuimhn铆 a dh茅anfaidh t煤 ar an mbealach.
Looking back to when you were filling in your CAO form and doing your Leaving Cert, what would you say to your younger self?
Don鈥檛 stress so much about having it all figured out right away. Trust the process, keep an open mind, and know that the right path will find you.
Embrace every opportunity, especially the ones that scare you a little 鈥 they鈥檙e the ones that will help you grow the most. And remember, it鈥檚 not just about the course you choose; it鈥檚 about the experiences, the people, and the memories you鈥檒l make along the way.
C茅n focal a d鈥櫭簊谩idfe谩 chun cur s铆os a dh茅anamh ar 91制片厂?
Sineirge.
What word would you use to describe 91制片厂?
Synergy.
