Case Study: The scenic route can sometimes be the best route.

Leah aged 27 approached me in November 2023.  A busy lady with a lot going on her life including working full time in an engineering manufacturing company. Her work involved a commute of 2 hours daily despite this she was actively involved in volunteering with young people in her community and playing sport with her local clubs. Leah’s first words to me were ‘I want something different and better’.

Leah comes from an area with a lot of socio economic challenges, high level of unemployment and unfortunately services in this area (like many other areas) are stretched beyond the limit. Leah’s post primary school life was impacted by the lack of services available in particular an over stretched school unable to provide any sort of 1-1 teaching, career guidance or providing information on pathways to assessing third level education.  Despite this Leah loved learning in school, like many she didn’t particularly enjoy the core subjects specifically Irish and English and the traditional exam structure didn’t align with her learning style.  This did not deter her; she developed her own strategies to allow her to engage in study and to achieve her best potential.

Leah was (as she said herself) ‘lucky’ that she found she had a great ability and interest in the subjects Engineering and Design Communication and Graphics (DCG). She felt this is what allowed her to complete her post primary education as some of her friends had already left school or were absent on many occasions.   Early in 6^th year Leah told her Engineering and DCG teacher that she would love to teach these subjects but unfortunately she was met with a blank stare and no words of encouragement.  However, as 6^th progressed and purely due to Leah’s ability and persistence for help this teacher took a genuine interest in her education, mentored her with her project work and became the inspiring teacher she needed to get her through her exams. 

When it came to making decisions about what to do after school Leah was again met with a ‘brick wall’ approach and no guidance or encouragement.  She felt there was no chance she was ever going to go to college and in fact this idea was shunted by anyone she mentioned it to.  While transition rates to college has improved over the last 5 years for those from socio economic challenged areas figures recently quoted still show a huge gap compared to those from more affluent areas; sitting in the mid 20% bracket compared to approximately full progression.  So it is no surprise that Leah was met with a ‘brick wall’ approach.

Leah did her own research, she reflected on her skill set, and she considered what she could do based on the areas of Engineering and DCG. However, the external and internal voices continued to tell her she wasn’t going to college. This resulted in not even making a CAO application.  

She applied for an electrician apprenticeship feeling that she would enjoy this career.    While studying for her mocks she completed a rigours recruitment process for this apprenticeship.  Her mock results were ok but she felt she could do a lot better.  She put her head down and worked hard to prepare for the exams in June.

She was successful in securing the apprenticeship and while she was happy about this she mentioned to me that there was no excitement.  It was more so that she had something do after school rather than being fully committed.  She was pleased with the results of her Leaving Certificate Exams, achieving a H2 in her preferred subjects, and surprising herself with the results of the other subjects especially maths gaining a H5.  

She commenced her apprenticeship in the usual male dominated environment. Leah just got on with it and her employer was very impressed with her knowledge, work and determination. During the off the job phase of the training a lot of her male counterparts struggled with the academic side of the training in particular the maths modules. This is where Leah showed her ability to teach; she offered grinds to the struggling participants, developed easy to follow worksheets for them and basically got them through the maths modules.  She loved it. Ideas were sown again that she could be a teacher.

She qualified as an electrician and found immediate employment with a large manufacturing engineering company.  She doesn’t love it but is glad to be working and the money is good. Leah was working with this company for 5 years when she approached me.  The financial rewards are good but she feels this is no longer a reason to stay. It has always being niggling her that she didn’t have the opportunity to consider college.

When she came to me in November 2023 she had pretty much made up her mind she was going to leave her job and apply to go to college to qualify as a post primary teacher of Engineering and DCG.  However, there were still some concerns holding her back.  We had a very open and frank discussion; we completed a SWOT analysis of all options. We did a visioning backwards exercises and a chat about ‘given ourselves permission to be’. 

Further to this we covered the routes to allow her to gain her teaching qualification including a review of her qualification status to date including her leaving certificate grades/points, her apprenticeship qualification and her eligibility to apply via the CAO as a mature student. During the session we developed a template for Leah to write her ‘Statement of Interest’ based on mature grounds application. We made a CAO application and submitted relevant courses on her CAO.    To say Leah left the session skipping with joy is an understatement. Two days later Leah sent me her completed ‘Statement of Interest’ for a review.  It is seldom that I receive one of these for review that doesn’t need some tweaking but Leah hit all the right points and I had nothing to add.  She submitted all her supporting documentation as required based on mature grounds application.  Job done so all she could do now was wait!

Roll forward to July 2024, I received an email from Leah informing me she was offered her place to study the Bachelor of Education Technology, Engineering and Graphics at TUS Athlone Campus and DCU.  Excitement and sense of achievement was high and rightly so.

Fast forward to June 2025, I received another email form Leah letting me know that she had completed year 1 of her course, engaged in her first school placement and in addition to this she had aced all her first year exams. Most importantly she is enjoying every single moment of her education and her college experience to date.

Yes, there has been some challenges along the way particularly the financial challenges of giving up a well-paid full time job and forgoing travel and holidays (when a lot of her group are off exploring the world).  Also living in student accommodation and moving back home to live with parents at the weekends is not ideal.   However, Leah really feels all these sacrifices will be worth it when she qualifies. 

I have not doubt at all that Leah will qualify.  The commitment and work ethic she has shown to date is to be admired.  Any school that employs Leah will be lucky to have her as a teacher.  She will be the role model needed in that school.  Leah will be the teacher despite all the obstacles to support and genuinely have an interest in her students.  At her core Leah is a teacher and well on her way to qualifying.

The lesson here is do not give up on your dream until you have explored all options and avenues, given yourself permission to do what you want or at least to explore the reality of this idea.  I think the big lesson here is while the traditional route to pursing your career goal may not work out for you for whatever reason there are always other routes or if you like a scenic route. In many cases this scenic route is a better route as you will be ready for it and really want it.

Leah has given me permission to write this piece and she wants to get across to any student struggling in school or who may feel that their personal circumstances do not enable them to better themselves (her words), that ‘YOU HAVE OPTIONS AND THAT YOU ARE WORTHY OF EXPLORING THESE OPTIONS’