Farewell to the Class of 2023

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8 TOPIC • 8 June, 2023 CLASS OF 2023 FEATURE Farewell to the Class of 2023 Students invited to apply for 2023/24 Gerard Byrne Bursary From 1 June, 2023, the National Council for the Blind in Ireland (NCBI) is accepting applications from students who are blind or vision impaired for our annual Gerard Byrne Bursary. The NCBI Gerard Byrne Bursary honours the contribution of Gerard Byrne, who was a lifelong advocate for education. The bursary consists of annual grants for undergraduate students who are blind or vision impaired studying on a fulltime basis at a recognised educational institution in the Republic of Ireland. The value of each scholarship is set at €2,000 per year and continues for the duration of the undergraduate programme chosen by the Bursary winners. Toni O’Dwyer, National Services Manager for NCBI’s Children and Young Persons (CYP) team, said: “The Gerard Byrne Bursary is one of the most important tools that NCBI has in supporting young people to progress into and complete third level studies. It provides support to students who are blind or vision impaired to lift some of the financial burden of post-secondary study so they can fully focus on completing their studies within an education system that can often leave them behind. This, along with our other education resources, like Bookshare Ireland and individualised support from the CYP team, continue to help break down barriers to education for people who are blind or vision impaired and who wish to progress beyond college and into the workforce. “We would encourage students to read our accessible awarding criteria document, which is available on the NCBI website, and to apply if you are eligible. We can’t wait to meet our eventual 2023/24 Gerard Byrne Bursary award winners and to see how far they have and will come in their education goals.” DEADLINE The deadline for receiving completed applications is 21 July. Students who wish to submit queries about the bursary can do so by emailing: bursary@ncbi.ie. ‘Desiderata’ ‘Things that Are Desired’ – a contemporary anthem for school leavers Established 1994 1 Austin Friars Street, Mullingar sales@basecomputers.ie • www.basecomputers.ie • 044 93 49622 • Replacement chargers, screen replacements • Repair to all makes & models of laptops LAPTOPS, COMPUTERS, PRINTERS, INKS, ACCESSORIES, NETWORKING, PC GAMING, DATA RECOVERY, WEBSITES AND MORE... Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Go Your Own Way If college or apprenticeships is not for you but you have a burning desire to change the world or at least see the world, here are a few alternatives to the world of study and work: 1. TRAVEL It certainly does broaden the mind and the taste buds and whets your appetite for something ‘more’. So, get your globe out and start planning your travel route - perhaps working and volunteering as you go, picking up some invaluable lifetime skills! 2. PAINTER / AUTHOR Are you the arty types who loves to visit museums and spends hours reading and re-reading books? Then perhaps you have it in you to make your fortune by giving art or writing a try. You need nothing more than a pen and paper, and a reasonable vocabulary if you plan to write. 3. GO ON A RETREAT Taking a few weeks, months or even a year out rejuvenates the body, mind and spirit, so a retreat may be just the thing you need at this point in time. Consider doing the “Ireland Way” Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. walk, or the “Camino de Santiago” walk. Go on a yoga or wellness retreat. Escape off into the hills and mountains for the last reasonable month or two of good weather this year and camp out for some time. Basically consider spending time with yourself and see if enlightenment into what your future plans are emerges. No worries if you’re none the wiser when you’re finished your retreat; your body and mind will at least be at peace by the end of it. – Max Ehrmann, 1952 D 4. ENTREPRENEUR Now is the time to chalk out your burning ambition to be the leading entrepreneur in an undiscovered field that awaits you. So no matter how ridiculous you think your idea is, there is scope for just about anything in todays world - so give your idea some life and see where it goes from there. Speak with your local LEO office for advice. We wish you all the best!
TOPIC • 8 June, 2023 Farewell to the Class of 2023 CLASS OF 2023 FEATURE 9 Useful ways to spend the summer Castlepollard Community College Awards So that’s it - you’re finished with secondary school and college days are just around the corner. You probably won’t realise it yet but you’ll miss school, you’ll miss your friends, your teachers, you’ll miss the proximity of how close school was to home but no doubt, you’ll quickly make friends at college and you’ll build up a rapport with college teachers in no time and you’ll have travel to and from college aced in a few days so college is just one big adventure you have to look forward to from here onwards. Board of Management member Donie Cassidy presents James Sheehan with the Misneach Resilience Award. You have a few months to enjoy between secondary school and college and this is time you will be happy to have; to relax a bit after final exams or take a well deserved holiday after the hectic study schedule over the past few weeks. Some of you might be a bit bored wondering how you’ll fill your time between June and September. Here are a few ideas we hope you’ll find useful in helping you enjoy your summer before college to the maximum. 1. Help out at home Ask your parents and grandparents if there is anything in particular they might want or need help with; maybe paint the fence or a wall / tidy up the garden / clean out the kitchen and bedroom cupboards / organise a family gettogether, etc. 2. Travel / re-connect with family and friends Although travel can be expensive, it is the favourite thing most students will want to do before college. Use this time to catch up with family and old friends before college takes over your life. Lessen the expense by looking up long lost relations and staying with them for a few nights! Don’t forget to make use of any student discount cards you have to avail of special travel deals both here i Ireland, and abroad. 3. Check out your new town / city Use a few days of your spare time to do a recce of your new town/city. Check out where the nearest amenities are - the nearest hospital / medical centre / gym / shops / swimming pool /library /etc. Sign up to local newsfeeds on social media channels to get yourself used to what’s happening in your new area of residence so that you get a feel for life there. 4. Sign up to local clubs Check out clubs and groups in your new area and consider signing up in advance to gyms, book clubs and the like. This will help you settle in quickly into your new area and it will be a bit of escape from college life when college starts. It’s good to have a separate set of friends and groups to associate with, so that you’re not suffocated with college people and college talk all the time. 5. Volunteer There are many local and national associations and organisations that would welcome an extra pair of hands and an extra brain or two, to help out with all sorts of work. You’ll probably find yourself continuing with volunteer work during and after college, for once you start, most people enjoy the joy and happiness volunteering brings and they keep at it for years. It’s always best to volunteer with local organisations where possible, as they know you and your family and you know them but volunteering with any reputable organisation will always bring you great rewards. 6. Intern Intern work might not sound like something you will be interested in, as much of it is unpaid, but, it is a way you can gain knowledge of the working world. Who knows, once you have your foot in the door, this work could be a potential career path for you to follow in years to come. Embassies and international organisations in big cities regularly offer internships. Whatever you end up doing this summer, enjoy it and make the most of every single day before college life takes over. Ms K. McDermott hands over the Senior Sports Person of the Year Certificate of Achievement to Emma Gilchrist. Ms Anne-Marie Casey hands over the Best School Ethos Award certificate to Bradley Haverty. D
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Farewell to the Class of 2023

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