Welcome to SHSS Alumnae Link!

This is where we connect with past pupils and find out what they’re up to now.

This week we linked with Eva Shanahan who graduated in 2019.

Name and position:

Eva Shanahan, Third Year Business Studies Student at University Of Limerick, Majoring in Insurance & Risk Management/ Business Owner.

Lives:

Clonakilty/ Limerick/ Dublin – Little all over the place depending on the week!

Best memory of Sacred Heart:

Hard to pick one but in general, I would probably miss the routine and security of school life. Although it is boring sometimes life is so crazy, you do just miss the mundane days of secondary school. Putting on the same uniform every morning, going to your morning classes, heading to the canteen for a cup of coffee, back to classes, lunchtime and so on…

What were your favourite classes?

I really did enjoy all of my leaving certificate subjects but particularly English with Ms Nash, Economics with Ms Hennessy & Business with Ms N O Neill/ Ms Collins.

English was one I struggled with throughout my time in second level, but Ms Nash never told me to give up and I did end out getting a good grade in the end, so it was quite rewarding in that sense.

Tell us about your career progression to date:

I had several part time jobs from the age of sixteen till now but starting my own business Summer 2021 has certainly been my greatest career achievement to date.

Now don’t ask me why I wanted to start my own business because I genuinely cannot tell you the reasoning, I started it as a challenge and just thought you know, if nothing comes of this at least it will be an experience that might stand to me at some point or another.

Never in a million years did I imagine what was to come and I cannot thank whatever good luck came my way enough.

Every morning I woke up I would nearly pinch myself, that entire experience was like scratching a scratch card and winning!

Every single obstacle that came along was a huge challenge (especially when you’ve no clue what you’re doing!) but I just took each one as they came instead of panicking about what was to come or what could go wrong.

It was my sister Alex who brought the whole ‘problem’ to me one evening saying how there was no boba tea café in West Cork and there was only one in Cork City at this point. She was complaining to me as she had a mad craving for it and couldn’t get it! This got me thinking and ultimately one thing led to another, BrewBa came to the fore and the rest is history.

Obviously setting up your own business isn’t something you can learn in school, or Boba Tea recipes for that matter, everything that happened was self-taught and I was really shooting into the dark.

I do put most of it down to good luck and just having a bit of self-belief.

Every penny I earned from my part time jobs from when I was sixteen and the money I saved from working during the pandemic went into it.

I didn’t really tell anyone about it until it was happening, I didn’t want people to talk me out of it and, I didn’t know if it was going to come to happen until it did.

I didn’t do it for monetary gain but let me tell you there’s just some experience you cannot put a price tag on.

BrewBa is all finished up with for now, I started it as a hobby, and I had to finish out my college degree. I will forever be thankful for the things I learned and every single opportunity which came out of that small idea.

I am now currently working for Zurich Insurance Ireland based in Blackrock, Dublin. I am working under the Pensions umbrella focusing mainly on PRSAS (a type of pension product), so far, I’m really enjoying the experience and looking forward to returning to UL in September to finish out my final year.

If you weren’t in the job you have, what would you be doing?

Food or Animals!

Advice you would give your teenage self:

Focus on getting through today & tomorrow, what will happen will happen regardless.

Stop people pleasing, no matter what you do or how hard you try you cannot make everyone happy!

While your exams are important, they are certainly not the be all end all, if you are hardworking and passionate there is always another way, you will always find a way around.

Favourite quote or motto?

“Be happy not because everything is good, but because you can see the good side of everything.”

What is your hidden talent?

I make a decent falafel wrap… new business idea? Haha!

Huge thanks to Eva for taking the time to answer our questions!

See you soon for the next instalment of SHSS Alumnae Link.