It’s another week of online tutorials and assignment submissions - the new term of my H Dip in Primary Education with Hibernia College is well and truly underway. As I peel off my very fetching secretarial headphones to grab a cup of tea and write this, my first blog for Education Matters, I’m wondering how best to introduce myself and explain my chosen educational path.

I graduated from University Limerick, found my way to Washington DC working as an intern for a Congressman before pursuing a career as a radio producer with UTV and later with Radio New Zealand. Somewhere along the way, between the demands of preparing shows and scripting dialog, I discovered that I wanted to be a teacher. In my spare (albeit limited) time I worked as an educational officer at Sky Tower in the heart of Auckland city. Teaching children about the geographical and historical significance of the sights from the tower’s 190 meters high windows was far more fulfilling than the hours spent swivelling around my production suite waiting for the next big story to break. I had finally discovered my vocation.

When I returned home I fell back into the media circle and this time it was in print. I enjoyed working with The Irish Times but I still wanted to qualify as a primary teacher without having to give up my income and the lifestyle that I had grown accustomed to since graduating from Uni all those years ago. St. Pats, Mary I and the rest have fantastic reputations but the thought of going back to student life and living with strangers was not appealing. Hetac-approved Hibernia College ticked all the boxes for me. It even meant that I could head home to Kerry at a whim and not miss a beat provided I had my laptop and internet connection.

Hibernia has two intakes of 250 students each year. To apply for a place you must have a primary degree and a certain level of Irish. I spent my days in the run up to my interview for the February ’07 intake begging people to talk Irish to me and in truth, that is the only way you will reawaken those Irish cells in your brain. Practice speaking it. I was the last person on the final day to be interviewed and as I closed Hibernia’s blue Georgian door on Clare St. I realised just how much I wanted a place on this course and to be part of this “unique learning experience”.

Shortly after I (ecstatically) received my place in the Feb ’07 group, I found myself at the bank, passport in hand, looking for a bank draft for €6,850 (it has since gone up to €7,565) which couldn’t be paid in instalments. Thankfully my SSIA ship had sailed in and I was able to cough up the coffers without begging, borrowing or committing a felony. I had successfully managed to get my foot on the teaching ladder and take the first steps along my new career path. What lay ahead was an induction day at Maynooth, my first teaching practice, and my current state of virtual existence ...

Dearbhla