I decided I’d do a bit of a personal blog today. For so many Irish teens today is a pivotal day in your life. Today is the day you got your CAO offers. Hopefully for many of you it’s been a good day and all your hard work has payed off. But, for some this may seem like the worse day ever (if you didn't get that course that you so badly wanted). I want to tell you that it will all be OK! If you didn't get your first choice (you might not see it now) but it’s probably not meant to be. Maybe there’s something else out there for you, something that will make you a lot happier in the long run. Or maybe this is what you really want and if it is then there are ways around everything, you might have to work a little harder and instead of taking the straight road you’ve taken the roundabout-but again that’s ok. All these roads eventually lead to the same place….
I remember back to when I got my CAO offer. I didn’t get my first choice, and I was literally devastated when I didn't get my offer. Thankfully my Mum helped me complete my CAO form and she had a lot more wisdom than I did at that time so I put down nursing as a “backup”. Little did I know that that “backup” was going to change my life forever.
I got into Trinity to do Nursing and I was probably the most unenthusiastic person there for the first while, I SO didn't want to be there. But as my thirst for knowledge expanded and I commenced my first placement (where you spend time on the wards working with qualified nurses) I really began to love nursing. I loved that I could help people in their most vulnerable state and make a difference. Even though at the end of the day I would literally be exhausted I would be looking forward to going back to the wards to see if my patient had improved, to learn more, to see more, to do more.
Nursing is such a tough course. While a lot of my non nursing friends were only in college for 15/20hours a week we were there every day 9am-5pm and it was intense. Placement was also pretty hard work, we were allocated to the wards for 12hour shifts (without pay). I remember my feet and legs used to throb with the pain from standing all day and being on my feet. As well as that we had lots of assignments and exams to do. But you know what I wouldn’t change if for the world.
I feel so privileged to say that I am a nurse. I qualified to work with adults but then I went back to college for another year and got my post grad in Children’s Nursing, there is no greater job than caring for sick children. I feel so honoured and blessed to be able to make a difference in a child’s life.
Nursing has opened so many doors for me. I even got to travel to Australia and work as a nurse while I was there in Brisbane and Sydney. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done, like ever. I went with all my girlfriends and literally had the time of my life. I was free and easy and at the same time working in the field I loved, gaining invaluable experience. I even worked as a nurse in a prison! I have some crazy stories about working there but maybe not for this blog post.
So I’ve kinda rambled on a bit about how amazing nursing is.. But my point is that at the time I genuinely thought my life was over when I didn’t get what I thought I wanted but now I’m so grateful that I didn't get what I originally wanted. I believe (and not only in this situation) but in all situations that things always work out the way they are supposed to and if you embrace that then I promise it’ll turn out much better than you ever imagined.
So, if you’t not happy today then make a plan and change it figure out what it is you want and go about making it happen. You only have one life so make it count….. It may require a bit of hard work but if you want it bad enough then you’ll do it.
Also, on a side note maybe you’ve gotten a CAO offer and you’re not sure if it’s for you… College isn’t for everyone, but I do believe that everyone is good at something. So go away, travel, explore the world, find yourself and in finding yourself you will find your niche and what makes you happy and ultimately what you want to do with you life. You only get one after all..
Love Fiona Xx