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Award is the icing on the cake for Justin
Having scored an outstanding 560 points in the leaving cert last year, being accepted to his chosen third level course was more than enough reward for local student Justin Brayden but it was certainly the icing on the cake when he recently received the UCD High Achievers Award based on his Leaving Cert performance.
“I live with a guy who got the award last year so I knew what was involved but I had no idea that I would get it until I got the email confirming that I had won.”
“It was a great time for me from getting my results to getting into college and then this”.
Receiving the award from the UCD President Dr. Hugh Brady at the High Achiever’s Award ceremony was also a highlight for Justin.
“I received a certificate and the award will be recorded on my degree when I get it. My parents were delighted for me and both my mum and Mr. McGinley (principal of St. Mary’s College) came along to the official ceremony in the O’Reilly Hall in UCD”.
Now in his second semester studying Actuarial and Financial studies in UCD, Justin is enjoying a new way of learning. “College is completely different from the Leaving Cert, it’s just a totally different way of learning. You have to work independently, doing your own research and most importantly you have to find out for yourself when the Mid term exams are on!”
“Compared to school, college life is very technology based and everything you need to know is posted on the Internet. UCD has an Internet Learning Suite, UC Connect, where you can view your timetable and UC Blackboard where you go to find things like homework assignments”.
However, while he is enjoying this new way of learning, according to Justin, just like school, there is simply no substitute for attending classes.
“Maths is always at 9am so I have to be up and out well before that. You just cannot miss one of these classes because what you learn in one class leads on to the next and so on, so you have to be constantly alert!”
According to Justin, keeping on top of things from the beginning is already starting to pay off, “I did really well in my Economics exam at Christmas and if I do as well in the next one I will get an exemption from one of the Actuarial Professional Exams that every Actuary has to do when they finish college, it’s like the Actuary equivalent of passing the Bar. In UCD you have the opportunity to get an exemption like this in one or two modules every year so it is an added incentive to do well.”
Though he is thoroughly enjoying college life as a student of finance, Justin cannot but be aware of the effects of recession that is sweeping the country. “The speed and severity of how the recession has taken hold of the country has been quite frightening. It demonstrates the power of Globalisation when you see how quickly something that happened in America has caused job losses in Irish companies”.
“I look at the Irish Times and the Financial Times every morning and we are being bombarded with bad news and listening to Fianna Fai l in the Dail everyday doesn’t inspire confidence”.
Indeed for Justin the recession is more than just something to be studied as it directly impacts the pockets of his fellow students, “Personally I am much more conscious of what I am spending, I allocate my money very carefully and I seem to be constantly checking my bank balance”.
However, no amount of recession talk will stop Justin from making the most of the college experience, “I am really enjoying meeting new people and the energy on campus, the atmosphere is great and there is always something on, either bands or class nights out. I was voted class rep and I love getting involved in everything that is going on!” Living the student life away from home has also given Justin a renewed appreciation of his creature comforts, “I absolutely love living in Dublin but I definitely appreciate coming home more – it is unbelievable just how luxurious it seems now!”
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Weather for Dundalk
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
