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 Shannon Chapman who graduated in 2019.

Name and position:

Shannon Chapman, Final year Bsc Nautical science, National Maritime College of Ireland (MTU)

Lives:

Courtmacsherry.

Best memory of Sacred Heart:

There is honestly so many to choose from, but definitely the time in 2nd year in the prefabs during lunch myself and a few of the girls were standing on the tables singing Troy an Gabriella’s duet from High School Musical and just as we were about to belt our hearts out with the chorus. Ms. Mayock walked in and told us to leave, it was both a funny and embarrassing experience. Disappointed we didn’t get to finish the song.

What were your favourite classes:

Funnily enough, I enjoyed Religion class the senior cycle classes in particular, it was nice to do the mindfulness and the tea and coffee days just to take a step back and ground ourselves, especially during 6th Year.

Music of course has to be at the top, we were a small class but it brought us closer together.

Physics, although I was a disaster at it I still found it interesting, it has definitely benefited me through my course in college as my course can be maths and physics based depending on the module. Mr Pegler was also an amazing teacher whose notes I still use to this day to help me get through my assessments!

All my classes were great fun but I enjoyed French too, I couldn’t speak an ounce of it, but the fun we had in the class was unmatched. Especially the music videos we would compose to further develop our skills.

Tell us about your career progression:

I graduated SHSS in 2019 and commenced in NMCI that September. The course started out with up to 40 students but due to its difficulty, there are many of those who dropped out so this year our class has almost halved. I completed semester 1 on campus but mid semester 2 Covid-19 arrived and we commenced online learning. We had almost every exam online and our modules were converted to continuous assessment.Year 2 is sea phase. As we have to acquire a CoC for officer of the watch we have a CIT pass mark and a Department of Transport pass mark which is higher than that of CIT. Companies came into our college in February 2020 and students went through an interview process to become sponsored. Not all students can be sponsored as companies only take a limited number of cadets. Sponsored means the company will take you on their vessels in order for us to complete our cadet training, whilst also paying your tuition fee and other fees if needs be. In order to return to college we are required to have 12 months sea-time as well having completed the tasks within our Training Record book and, in addition, we are required to keep a professional journal as well as complete 40/50 task report titles set out by the college. This is of course to be completed whilst working onboard. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 companies were unable to take a number of cadets and therefore the college itself had to try and find places for students. This became very difficult and there was a long waiting period in the meantime. Therefore we were given the opportunity to take 3 of the 3rd year modules online and as a result only have study 4 once we make our return to college. I myself took this opportunity and therefore completed and passed these exams which were on campus. Having completed the exams December 2020 I had the opportunity to join Irish Ferries WB. Yeats in Dublin who at the time was sailing from Dublin to Cherbourg. I completed 3 months 3 weeks onboard, I was then home for 3 months and rejoined the same vessel September 2021. This time is was a lot less repetitive as the vessel went into dry dock in Belfast which is a huge opportunity for a cadet. I learnt many things during this period of time!. I signed off the vessel February 2022. I the joined the AZAMARA Quest, a cruise company now owned by V Ships Leisure. It was a great experience for me as I hope to work on cruise ships once I graduate and obtain my CoC. I travelled all over the Mediterranean, Baltics as well as around Ireland and the UK. I completed my seatime August 2022 with a total of 12 month 14 days.

I returned to college September 2022 for semester 1. The semesters in college are split into 2, Academics and Short courses. Short courses are required to be complete for all seafarers at sea, some are required to be completed by all crew onboard a vessel.These short courses are the likes of Medical first aid, Advanced fire Fighting, CPSC(driving lifeboats and sea survival) and others which are only required by officers and engineers. Having completed and passed all short courses I am now in Semester 2 of my final year. I will have written exams in May and in order for me to obtain my license to go to sea I will travel up to Dublin to the DOT to be examined orally, once passed I may then work at sea and progress through the ranks. I am hoping to be at sea again August of this year. I will graduate from university May 2023. The course is 3.5 years but due to COVID it took me just over 4.

Advice you would give your teenage self:

STOP OVERTHINKING! One thing is did whist studying for the Leaving Cert was almost do TOO MUCH. I over complicated things and as a result created more stress and more workload for myself which was not needed.

Enjoy your school days as once you graduate it is time to enter the adult world which is sometimes not as easy as you may think.

Go on those nights out, go out and socialise with your friends (provided you have your study done) you only get one period of teenage years so make the most of it.

I’d finally tell myself that no matter what life throws at you, just know you can overcome it because once you put your mind to something, and keep at it, you truly can achieve your dreams.

Favourite Quote or Motto:

‘Tough times never last, tough people do.’ – Robert Schuller

What is your hidden Talent:

I can whistle 3 ways with my mouth.