Richard Njoku - Economics and Political Science Student
For anybody who is considering the commute from County Meath to Dublin on daily basis, it might seem like an endless journey. I thought so too until I realised that it takes only about three quarters of an hour to travel between Enfield and Dublin city centre. Now that I have gotten so used to it, it sure seems like a natural thing to do. One thing is certain: the Bus Eireann time table for the Dublin-Meath route is reliable. It is also frequent and little hassle. But then if one has a car and prefers the comfort of driving, there is a solution to parking fees. I will reveal a secret (that hopefully will remain a secret): parking in the Phoenix Park is free! You can then simply hop on to Dublin Bus or the LUAS line. Both are cheap and you are in the city centre in less than ten minutes.
Now that transportation worries have been sorted, let’s come down to the real deal: studying in Trinity College Dublin. As far as I am concerned the hardest part of project is the application process. Education, they say has no age limit. One thing that struck me when I first began my degree programme in Trinity is the mix of not just different age groups but people of all walks of life. The Mature Students Orientation Week that took place before the Fresher’s Week was very helpful. It was reassuring and encouraging to see that I was not the only mature student in my class. My interaction with others in this group was exciting and it boosted my confidence. Similarly, the academic workload is designed in such a way that the tutorials will always compliment the lectures. Mathematics was particularly tough going for me at the initial stages, but a few grinds organised by the Engineering Dept helped to get me through.
On the other hand it is not all work and no play. There are loads of societies to join. I found myself performing in last year’s St Patrick’s Festival, thanks to the Afro-Caribbean Society that organises drumming classes for students amongst other hobbies. I have also revived my poetry writing skills by joining the Literary Society where some of my poems have been published in college journals. Reading nights organised in pubs have been most relaxing.
Finally looking back at my experiences in Trinity College, there is little doubt that my decision to return to full time education was the right choice. I had worked in manufacturing plants for a couple of years and thought the best way to improve my career opportunities was to acquire more skills. The years have just flown by and I am excited to be among students that will graduate this academic year.