And so it begins….

Hey guys, I know I’ve been AWOL the past few weeks, between getting my results, CAO offers and grad chaos, my life has been thrown into overdrive! Not to mention, I’m working nearly every waking moment of the day! So anywaaaaaaay, let me fill you in! I’m happy to inform all of yee, that I am now a JOURNALISM student in DCU! I actually couldn’t be more happier with my offer, that I received yesterday morning! I was so anxious to find out if all my complaining and whining had actually paid off, and well it did! 😀 I was thrilled with my leaving cert results as well, so much higher than I had ever even imagined, but oh dear god, it was possibly the most nerve wrecking experience of my life!

Let’s back track to last week. The 15th of August to be precise. The day students all across the country dreaded, anticipated and waited for. LC results. I woke up at 8am, I’m a little surprised myself really, I thought I would have been up since 5! Hopped into the shower and blared Beat, to drown out the nerves in the pit of my stomach. Although once I came downstairs and tucked into my usual bowl of Cornflakes, I felt somewhat calmer. A moment of realisation. I thought to myself, there is no point being worried. It’s done now, nothing more I can do. However, this feeling was short lived once I got into the car and heard past students telling their stories about how they were so upset with the points they received and missed out on their courses. (Like seriously? Why in God’s name would you interview these people right before results were issued?!?!) I arrived at the school around 8.30, thinking that results were out at half 9. Nuh uh, the minute I set foot into that school, my principal handed me that envelope!

Well thats when it all became real. I ran into one of the nearest classrooms, and ripped the results open, (well not literally, I gently pealed it open if I’m gonna tell the truth! I was too scared I’d rip the results in half ) I started shaking like crazy once I had seen the results before me. I was over the moon. I knew I had more than enough points for my course and that was it.

So after a long night of bending the elbow and having a few sociable drinks, I was all set for CAO offers. (well once I recovered from the 3 day hangover that is!) Fast-forwarding to yesterday i.e Offers, I was so excited to see what was in store for me! Once again, I woke at a respectable 8am, although once I saw the text messages on my phone asking me what I had got, I sprang out of bed and lept for the laptop. Waiting patiently I waited for CAO to load, fingers sprawling across the keyboard to get my details in as quick as possible. And there it was. DC132 – Journalism. I stared at the screen in awe for a solid 5 minutes I’d say. I couldn’t believe it. I actually got my course. On the way to being a Journalist.

As if that wasn’t enough, then the excitement truly chimed in when Facers was mobbed by everyone posting their new colleges on their pages. Some disappointed, some ecstatic, but overall, the general buzz was incredible! But, the reality slapped me in the face once the whole accommodation aspect came into view. Shit. I had applied for campus but heard nothing back. I spent all last night prowling the internet for places to live that hadn’t been booked out…looking for roommates, a place near the college, a place that was affordable…sheesh. I never knew it was so much work. At 12 I gave up and hit the sack, a 9-6 work day was ahead of me and I could barely stay awake.

So the next day in work, I tried forgetting about it, hoping that’d somewhere would get back to me and I could secure a place. At around 3 I saw an email from DCU campus residences, praying to god this would be good news. Eventually I opened it, and it read:

Dear Ms. Orlaith Farrell we are delighted to inform you that you have been successful in securing a room on campus for the Academic year 2012/13.

I think I may have experienced a slight heart-attack once I saw the first 6 words of that email. I was sure I wasn’t going to get campus as all the students with 500+ points are guaranteed a place and after that it is a lottery system…and considering I didnt get 500+ or have ever won the lottery, I didnt think my chances were too high! Well there ya go, I must have been a saint in the past life, cos this Karma is incredible!

And now we’re up to today. The day before my grad, and I actually couldn’t wish for anything more. 🙂 I hope you guys are all happy with the points and course you got. Come on, we’re going to College! Roll on 17th of September! Hell yes!

-Orlaith 🙂

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Irish Times Leaving Cert Review

Once again I am incredibly late putting my articles up here! I wrote a review for the Irish Times during my Leaving. I reviewed the infamous English Paper 2 aka THE GREATEST CURVEBALL IN HISTORY. Nonetheless, read, enjoy and bask in the happiness that the treacherous creature know as the Leaving Cert has left once and for all. (Well hopefully anyway!) -Orlaith http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0608/1224317501472.html

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Facebook and social networks – The Irish Times

Small piece I wrote about my usage on social networking sites, as well as other students across the country 🙂

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/education/2012/0403/1224314290996.html

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My little piece for the Irish Times

Meaning to put this up for ages but it sorta slipped from my mind (oops). Basically just a small review by yours truly on internet study sources, I was asked to do by Exam Watch! Enjoy 🙂

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/education/2011/1122/1224307943517.html

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Grease Review. 1/12/11

Grease Review

            As the audience took their seats, excitement bounded off the Dun Mhuire Theatre walls, anticipating the final production of Grease: The Musical. The incredible production between our very own schools, Loreto Secondary School and St. Peter’s College. Nerves and tensions were high back stage as the rumbles of excited chatter filled our own local hall. Since the start of the year, both schools have worked incredibly hard to produce not only a show, but a phenomenon that would be referred to as one of the most professional displays of talent both schools have ever seen.

As the red curtain loomed, it revealed a different world. The audience was transported into a different time and different era. The audience became the students of Rydell High School. The talented cast morphed into their characters perfectly, a group of individual teenagers getting through the pressures of secondary school (Something that we can all relate too!) We were introduced to both cliques right from the start, the “out-of-sight” T-birds and the cool, chic Pink ladies. Ali Murphy, who played Rizzo, adapted to her bad girl role perfectly, with her air of coolness that left the audience in awe. As Ali sang, the audience fell silent as they looked on with an emotional gaze. She captured not only the attention of the audience but their hearts as well. Ali described her time in the show as “totally energetic and fun, it’s as if we’re one big family backstage”. It was clear that these students loved the roles they played and flourished in portraying their characters. “Frenchie”, or to some of us Katie Wright, stunned the audience with her uncanny ability to mimic the accent of the original Frenchie and her impressive smoking techniques. Katie completely transformed into the true Frenchie with her best friend attributes. The show also boasted incredible solos from a variety of different cast members, our very own Fiona Brauneisen included. Fiona becomes a singing sensation as the girls parade around in their pj’s, although, we doubt Sr. Christine would have approved! Fiona, who is in 6^th year this year, said that “the show is a great escape to rid ourselves of the 6^th year blues”; she also went on to say that being a part of Grease was simply indescribable. Yet, let’s not forget the comic side to the show! Laura Donnelly grabbed the laughs of the audience in her hilarious role as Jan. Her humour was unforgettable and I still am smiling while thinking about her fantastic portrayal as the fun-loving character, who not to mention gets her first kiss on stage! Laura said she loved the role as Jan, because it was exactly like herself!  And let’s not forget our beloved Sandy, played by Jill Murphy. Jill captured the sweet, innocent role down to a tee, yet surprised us all as she made a complete transformation into her black, leather ensemble! Jill’s solos were beautiful and poignant; she evoked the emotions of the crowd with her incredible voice.

Wait now, we can’t forget the boys! The Peters boys, as much as it pains me to say it, delivered completely this year with their fantastic array of talent. (FYI, I’m referring to the music, not the tanned bodies of Lambert, Scallan, Hughes and Conway!  This definitely gave the girls something to look at!) The boys really did wow the audience with their guitar playing, dance moves and overall performance. Nathan Harran and John Mullins, showed off their musical stylings on guitar (ahem ahem!) and managed to enthral the crowd with their innocent boyish charm. Nathan described his time in the show as “a chance to really enjoy the time left in school and do something completely different”. Sam O’Shea also managed to catch the laughs from the excited audience with his hilarious side-kick role. David Atkinson revived the loved character of Kenicky, with his incredible talent for the stage. David transformed completely into his role, capturing the audience and sharing the experience of this old time classic. David who has been in a number of performances described Grease as “totally professional even though it is an amateur show”. The atmosphere and electricity bounced from the stage as he and his leading star, Danny, played by Fintan Lawlor, boasted their impressive talents to the audience.

The chorus really jumped into the swing of things for this much-loved musical. Not only was their acting and ambition incredible, the dances, the music, the songs and the costumes were perfected to a fine art. With a combination of talent from both schools, they truly shone on the stage of the Dun Mhuire. Each member completely in character of a Rydell High student. The hand jive scene particularly stood out to me. The professionalism of the cast, all the while captivating the fun-loving atmosphere was absolutely electric. Now, let’s not forget our two celebrities of the night! Both surprise visits from our very own, “coolest cat in town”, Sr. Carmel and the angelic Fr. Aodhan! Both of which gave fantastic performances, gelling well with the cast around them.

Grease stole the hearts of the audience that night. It produced an air of happiness, of excitement that kept the crowd singing “Shoo-bop-di-bop” all night. For me, it was an experience that I will never forget, and it will stand to me as a memory when I leave the school next year. The cast weren’t just a regular cast, they were a family. That was evident from each seat in the house. The chemistry on stage, the top-notch acting, the incredible songs and dances carved a place in the history of both schools that night. I think it is fair to say, that sitting there in the audience, we all felt proud. Proud of the cast, of our friends and teachers and most importantly our schools. The cast captured the true essence of school life and the joyful (well most of the time) days of youth. Congratulations to all the cast, Mr. Lawlor and Mr. Cleary, and to everyone who took part in the show. Together with everybody’s contribution, a fantastic show was produced. Finally, I have one more thing to say: Grease, truly is the word.

Written by Orlaith Farrell

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My feature in Wexford People 2010.

http://www.wexfordpeople.ie/news/surely-its-not-much-to-ask-for-x2013-a-place-for-teenagers-to-go-2166947.html

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