Past Pupils Corner!
In this latest of a series of publications on past pupils we feature Ellecia Vaughan.
During what time period did you attend Sacred Heart Secondary School?
I started first year in September of 2011 and graduated in June of 2018.
What did you do for work experience in 4th year? Did the work experience benefit you and help you choose your job preference?
I went to ‘Inspire.ie’ in Skibbereen. It is a graphic design company that make invitations, posters, logos and advertisements. They also work on designing websites. I found it very beneficial to me as it gave me a taster into what the real working world was like, however, it wasn’t as fast paced as I would’ve hoped. I like to multi-task but there people spend up to three weeks working on one project. I realised a career like this, for me, would get quite mundane and boring!
I don’t know if you could call it work experience but throughout fourth year I was part of the AIB school bank and that really helped me to develop financial skills like how to open a bank account, how to lodge and take out money and also how to manage finances, something very handy for college students!
What did you do after leaving school?
I finished the Leaving Cert in June 2017, went to college in Brighton for a month studying Fine Art but realised I really wasn’t happy there. I decided to come back to Sacred Heart for the year to give myself a chance to figure a few things out and to grow and develop as a person. That decision was not easy for me to make but it was the best decision I have ever made. I took the Leaving Cert again in June 2018 in a much better mindset, thus, I ended up doing much better than expected.
Are you working /studying now? And if so where?
Yes, I am currently in my first year in Trinity College Dublin studying History of Art and Architecture with Classical Civilisation. It is a four year course so I should be graduating in 2022. I love my course so far, it is challenging, but for all the right reasons. I like how it is really broad so I get to study a bit of architecture and a history of painting in Art History, while in Classics, I get to study a little bit of theology, mythology and Greek and Roman civilisations. I never thought I would ever make it to Trinity as I always thought it was out of the picture for me, but in reality I have never felt more myself studying in Dublin.
What was your favourite memory of Sacred Heart?
I have many fond memories from my school time, however, I have three favourite memories that make me smile every time I think of them. Firstly, is any class with my German teacher, Ms. Nash for 5th and 6th year. Our class got on really well with her and we all had a really good relationship with her. She was a really good teacher, one of my favourites. Another favourite memory of mine was on the last day of 5th year Maths with Mr. Hanley. I showed him a page in my maths copy I had kept throughout the year of all the funny little things he used to say like ‘cripes.’ That was priceless. Lastly, my all-time favourite time was in my Technology classes with the one and only Mr. Woods. I used to have some really weird dreams so I used to look forward to my classes where I could tell everyone about them while doing work.
What advice would you give your 16 year old self?
Stop taking life too seriously, forget about the past and just move on. I spent so much time up in my mind that I forgot to embrace and enjoy every moment. I really did enjoy my time in school but I just wish I would’ve been more self-aware and present. I should have stopped worrying about what other people think and do because in reality it won’t matter to anyone in a few years. Also to do something that scares me every day, step out of my comfort zone and continue to challenge myself to try new things.
