When I got awarded Cothrom na Féinne, there was a huge sense of relief. It was the smallest things at first that enriched my student life, like being able to buy a coffee on campus guilt-free. In my opinion, the biggest impact Cothrom na Féinne had was not on just simply practical things a student needs to survive, but the way it can reshape a damaged internal dialogue. Beginning my time in UCD without this scholarship, I was so focused on trying to feel accepted as a HEAR student, and with the help from the staff at ALL, I started to feel that I had earned my place in Veterinary Medicine. However, the daily financial struggles I faced enhanced a lot of doubts I already had. I had sacrificed so much to get into the degree, but it still did not feel like I had won. The scholarship removed a monkey on my back and freed me up to be more engaged in volunteer work, societies and engage with sports. I started feeling more confident that I could undertake such an intense degree after my life was better enriched by the scholarship. My past and background are only part of my story, the scholarship helped me to start living the rest of it. Now, at the end of my degree, I am very confident that I have absorbed the skills and knowledge needed for me to progress into a qualified veterinarian. Thanks to the Cothrom na Féinne Scholarship, my memories of UCD are affiliated with my leadership role in IVSA Ireland, all the connections I made and my participation in Vet Tag Rugby. Without this scholarship, I cannot be sure I would have completed this degree. 

The scholarship has been instrumental in assisting me in attending work placements, and on rotation. I had to complete a total of 24 weeks of work placement during my breaks in the academic year over the last 2 years. This meant I have had very limited opportunities to work a part-time job, even on weekends, so the scholarship has been so essential to me. The money has allowed me to attend these placements, as I used it to help me to get my driving licence, which has enabled me to arrive on time to placements and on rotations. I invested in my driver’s license and the cheapest car I could find. This enabled me to get to university on time, be on time for rotations especially those that began at 7:30am and be reliable when “on-call” at the weekends. It was an incredible feeling, when I no longer had to wake my mum up every morning to get me to the bus. I also did not have to call her to collect me in the evening from the bus stop either, it was life changing! I do not believe I would have been able to complete the degree without this investment. One of the best things to have come out of my own transport was my placement in Highfield Co. Kildare. I went with Dr. Pat Kirwan to visit Pig and Poultry farms. It gave me real insight into herd health and the high standard of on-farm biosecurity practices. I really built up some hands-on experience and it was a great experience to visit different parts of the country. 

There are few to no work placements in Veterinary Clinics that pay students, so all of our travel and how prepared we are is our own expense. The scholarship support also allowed me to get the equipment required of us to attend our rotations such as scrubs, a stethoscope, white pair of shoes for surgery, surgical cap and bandage scissors. During rotation, we are also expected to come in at weekends, and be on-call in case an emergency comes in. Without the extra support I would have struggled to do what is required of me, as there are no exceptions to being on-call or doing our weekend shifts. 

I am profoundly grateful for all of the support you have chosen to give students. The more I have progressed in my degree, I have thought that I admire the bravery I had but degrees don’t just take bravery and commitment, they come with obstacles that cannot be overcome with just determination. Thank you for helping me find my way, when a bus couldn’t get me in on time, for my first time diagnosing a heart murmur, for giving me the ability to be on call and arrive for an emergency after public transport had stopped running. 

This scholarship helped me to see past my obstacles and think beyond graduation. Before I knew I would receive this scholarship, I couldn’t think of the future because I was consumed with figuring out how to survive. With your support, I got the opportunity to feel prepared for every day and focus on my learning objectives. I hope to be like you one day and ease the financial barrier many students face in order to reach their full potential.

I expected to go through university completely alone, and figure it all out by myself. When I came across this scholarship, it helped me picture a college life that was a little less daunting. When I knew I would receive this support, I was able to focus on a future after this degree. Your contribution means that another student who sacrificed a lot to get access to their chosen college degree does not need to feel less capable because they cannot cover the costs of university. This scholarship is a lifeline for all students who have only faced adversity to pursue the career of their choosing. Even the smallest contribution could mean the difference to the success of these future professionals.