Donnchadh graduated with a BA (Hons) in Humanities in 2006 and is currently working as a Guidance Counsellor, as well as running the popular Leaving Cert Guidance podcast and social media profiles. He also regularly contributes to media outlets on third level options for students.
My pathway to third level
I wanted to do the Humanities degree (now the BA (Hons) in Arts & Humanities – PC410) in Carlow College because I knew I wanted to study History. Other than History I wasn’t sure which subjects I was interested in. Carlow College allowed me to study a number of subjects in first year including Philosophy, English, Theology, History and Psychology. As I moved through my degree, I started to specialise more in different subjects that I felt were for me.
Preparation for a career in teaching
I gained a love of English in my degree which I did not have when I was in secondary school. It was so different in college compared to school. It was a subject I gained a real passion for while I was in Carlow College, partly due to a great lecturer who was very passionate but also due the amazing texts, plays and poetry that we studied including Beowulf, Dante’s Inferno and Ulysses.
Previously to being a Guidance Counsellor, I was a History, English and Religious Education teacher. So having expertise in those areas from my degree was crucial to getting into education.
When I decided to progress towards guidance counselling, the developmental psychology I did in 1st and 2nd year was beneficial to my guidance counselling postgraduate studies where there is a lot of psychology.
Developing critical skills
Communication is key in my day to day which was definitely developed through my degree. Becoming an independent learner and critical thinker which was very much encouraged within my degree has also helped me develop in my career.
Developing my writing skills in the degree also helped my when I was a weekly educational columnist for the Irish Independent.
My career today
I am currently a secondary school Guidance Counsellor. My role is two main aspects, helping secondary school students with educational guidance but also with counselling. They are two very distinct aspects to the job.
I also run a social media account called Leaving Cert Guidance. I host podcasts, contribute to media outlets such as newspapers, radio and television to keep parents and students informed about options they have when they finish school.
