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 Sarah Pettit Mee (nee Corkery) who graduated in 1984.

Name and position:

Sarah Corkery Pettit-Mee.

Nurse, Midwife, Entrepreneur.

Lives:

Ardfield, Clonakilty.

Best memory of Sacred Heart:

It’s nearly 40 years ago!

I will pick the significant ones that stick in my memory.

The most surprising one was winning the class cookery competition for Bord Iascaigh Mhara.

I was in Sr Michael’s ( Sr Eílis) Home economics class and even to this day would not be one of my best subjects!

We all had to make a fish dish by ourselves, and for some reason I chose a fish souffle which has to be just right or it may not rise, but we had to make it twice once in class, then again for the judge to come and taste, and I won!

Another memory was our 5th year Geography trip to Gougane Barra With Mr O’Rourke and Mrs Wycherley (RIP).We were told the bus would leave at a set time and that we would stop in Bantry for our tea to get chips etc, so everyone was looking forward to this after a tiring day.

We all had our questions to complete on our worksheets on glaciation and we were divided into groups of three to four. Somehow as the day went on, our group strayed off the set path and we found ourselves lost overlooking the lake! There was quite the predicament of how we would get back as there were sheer drops and ravines, so we started to panic! We managed to climb down the rocks and find our way back, to the relief of the worried teachers and our classmates waiting on the bus. No mobile phones back then!

With the delay waiting for us we only had time for a toilet stop in Bantry… no chips for us…or for anyone else!

What were your favourite classes ?

Maths was definitely my worst subject but having Mr Nash for five years made the subject more enjoyable. Geography with Mr O’Rourke, whom I had for five years, was my favourite subject. French wouldn’t have been my favourite but when the new part of the school opened in 1982 we had French in what was known as the French lab with Sr.Eugenius. it was like sitting in theatre seats or a lecture hall and was so different to all the other classrooms.

Tell us about your career progression to date?

After completing my Leaving Cert and Matriculation to get combined points (which you could do in 1984). I got into UCC to do Science but it was compulsory to do Physics which I hadn’t studied for Leaving Cert as the timetable didn’t allow three science subjects. Unfortunately I didn’t get through my first year, despite repeating my exams, so had to rethink my career path. I started a healthcare course in Skibbereen but didn’t complete it as everyone was applying for jobs outside of Ireland. A lot of people emigrated during the 80’s. I went for two interviews in the UK and was successful in getting a position in the civil service and nurse training which I chose to follow. I completed my nurse training and then my midwifery training in the UK so then worked in the UK Guernsey and Germany over 19 years during that time got married and had my family. I returned to Clonakilty in 2005 and have worked as a midwife for the HSE and now work in the community. Since 2010 I qualified as a baby massage instructor, a hypno-birthing instructor and I completed a business course to run my own small business for parents-to-be.

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

I would love to retire early as some of my nurse training set have already done so. I love genealogy and have been doing my family history in my own time and would love to have more time to spend on this. I’d love to travel to places I haven’t been to as well.

Advice you would give your teenage self?

To look at the bigger picture and to do things you love. Not to keep putting things on the long finger as time flies! One minute you are a teenager and then you find yourself in your fifties , married with a family of six. I never thought when I left that five of them would attend Sacred Heart!

Favourite Motto?

The world is your oyster…

What is your hidden talent?

I can twist my tongue as I was taught by Mrs Nolan during elocution exercises back in St. Joseph’s NS!

Huge thanks to Sarah for taking the time to answer our questions.

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