In my opinion: TCD's access scheme has broken down class barriers
Wednesday September 09 2009
In my immediate family I am the first to go to college; at this stage my family is proud of the fact that I'm in higher education. Understandably, it took them a little while to fully understand my decision. It meant I would have to give up an apprenticeship but my family has been hugely supportive of my journey into college.
I am very proud to come from the inner city of Dublin. I live in Portland Place, just off Dorset Street. I went to Pobalscoil Rosmini, just off Grace park road. Rosmini is an absolutely fabulous school with some very caring and inspiring teachers.
None of the lads I hung around with then had any desire to go to college. Looking back, I realise that we were all in an enormous rush to start earning money.
Now the idea of going to college has become somewhat infectious in my house. I have two younger brothers who see college as the natural next step in their education.
That's what so important about access schemes such as HEAR (Higher Education Access Route); they don't only break down barriers for the individuals in question, but also show the path to entire families.
It was the late Tony Gregory who first guided me towards the Trinity Access scheme. I'm studying History and Political science and really looking forward to beginning my second year.
Access students always seem to perform a little bit better than the majority. College enables us to think outside the box, which we seem to adjust to a little easier than the conventional students, in my opinion.
I was terrified by the prospect of going to college. I realised, though, that absolutely everybody is in the exact same position as me.
College is completely different to school for everybody, not just older students or students who enter in non-traditional means. Going to college is taking a step into the unknown, so on your first day you will find many lost and nervous faces just like your own.
In my first year on the Trinity Access Programme, my involvement in college life consisted of playing for the Trinity Football team. I was captain of the freshers team, which I was very proud of. Last year, however, after 12 years of treating it far more seriously than a matter of life and death I stopped playing football.
Since then, my involvement in college life has become a bit more substantial; on a voluntary basis I am a very proud and passionate ambassador for the Trinity Access Programme. In this role, I get to help out in many rewarding ways to bridge the gap that exists in our education system.
The practical supports are wide. I availed of many: from the laptop-lending service to the computer room and, probably most helpful of all, the writing resource centre, which is an excellent place to have an essay given the once over before it is handed up.
What really stood out for me, though, is that universities can be daunting places but it really makes you feel a lot more comfortable when somebody takes the time, as the people from the HEAR scheme do, to ring you up or stop you in the corridor and ask how you're getting on. It's a small thing -- but it's something which a lot of students don't have.
Gary Gannon is a 2nd Year History and Political Science student, TCD
