Student to Student: Taking a different path through education at Cork Life Centre

INSPIRATION BEHIND THE SERIES

Young people deserve to hear from the perspectives, opinions, and experiences of other young people.

I believe we can learn from each other and help each other as we navigate the Irish education system.

I aim to draw from as many points of view as possible, making sure this advice is relevant to as many different students as possible.

The articles over these 10 weeks will look at study skills, career route options, Leaving Certificate reflections, school experiences, and so on.

A DIFFERENT PATH

Caoimhe Cotter is an 18-year-old, studying Early Learning and Care with Special Needs Assistance. She is completing her course whilst working in an art gallery.

She is passionate about LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, and is a member of the TRC, a youth-led group that aims to challenge the Irish government on issues in the trans healthcare system.

I wanted to make sure I included the views in this series, not only of young people doing well in school or finding the experience OK, but also the perspectives of young people who really struggled with school.

Caoimhe felt this way to such an extent that she dropped out of secondary school. She has since found a path that is suited to her and has a bright, shiny future ahead.

Caoimhe struggled with the “social and environmental aspects” of school.

“I had gone to a fairly small primary school,” she said.

There were a lot of aspects of secondary school that caused her anxiety.

Moving to a school with twice the amount of people… although I also struggled with social anxiety in primary, moving from what I was so used to was definitely a shock to the system.

Around this time, she got her diagnosis.

“Shortly after going into secondary school, I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). After which I decided to leave school.”

However, Caoimhe was always really interested in the academic side of school.

“I think that’s one of the main reasons I decided to go back.”

Yet, rather than going back to mainstream schooling, she moved to an alternative education setting, at Cork Life Centre, that improved her mental health greatly as it focused on the social aspects of learning.

She did complete the Leaving Certificate course but it was carried out “in a completely different way to the typical school”.

She elaborated: “Most classes up until sixth year were one-on-one with the student and teacher so that each teacher could get a better understanding of each student and how they learn.”

This helped her feel better catered for as she learned.

Then, in sixth year, students that had similar learning styles were placed in classes of up to three students to one teacher, so that each person could get as personalised an education as possible.

Reflecting on her time in school, she added: “I truly don’t think I could have gone back to mainstream education once I left it.”

She explained that even if you’re truly unhappy in secondary school and feel out of place, there is an option and hope for everyone.

Referring to secondary school, Caoimhe said: “It just wasn’t suited for me, although I do know many people who got on great in it.”

Yet, alternative education allowed her to flourish.

“My time at the Life Centre made me the person I am today.”

Talking about her hopes for her future, she explained: “I originally wanted to pursue social care or youth work when I left secondary school, as I wanted to be able to help young people the way my school helped me.”

Unfortunately, Caoimhe was too young to start the course she wanted. You had to be 18 by the time the first semester started and she was only 17. Her second choice was Early Learning and Care with Special Needs Assisting.

She had experience working with both young children and children with special needs, having worked in a summer camp for three years beforehand.

This encouraged her to do it, while she had to wait to be old enough to do the course she originally wanted.

“But by the end of the year. I knew that this was what I wanted to do,” said Caoimhe.

Now, she wants to stay in the course and will hopefully be continuing onto MTU this year to get her degree.

Caoimhe shared brilliant advice for anyone who relates to her story and feelings going through school.

I also felt that they were great reminders for anyone, all about living in the moment.

Looking back on her school experience, she said: “I would tell myself to just try to enjoy everything as much as you can while you’re in school because no matter how hard it is now, you’ll regret not talking to people you thought were ‘too cool’, or turning down going out because you’re too scared of what people will say.”

That same advice goes to any student in school now.

“It literally will not matter in the long run so just have fun.”

You can catch up on on the Student to Student series on EchoLive.ie