Lack of Leaving Cert did not stop college maths student

Megan Dooley, a university student pursuing a degree in mathematical sciences at TU Dublin, defied the odds by not sitting her Leaving Cert examination. The aspiring academic, who dropped out of secondary school in her fifth year, shared her inspiring journey with pupils preparing to receive their exam results. Megan's school experience was marked by anxiety and panic, leading her to make the difficult decision to leave formal education.

She expressed a sense of relief and disappointment simultaneously, acknowledging that she had always seen herself achieving a university degree despite the setback.

After leaving school, Megan enrolled in a QQI Level 4 General Learning course through a Youthreach program in County Louth. This full-time education and training initiative targets early school leavers, equipping them for apprenticeships, Post-Leaving Cert courses (PLC), and entry into the workforce. It was during this course that Megan discovered her passion for mathematics once again, as she had historically struggled with the subject in secondary school, despite her lifelong love for it.

Following her time at Youthreach, Megan pursued an engineering PLC course and subsequently completed a second PLC course in early childhood education. The latter field had been a source of income for her during her two-year tenure. Despite her initial setback, Megan remained focused on her ultimate goal: earning a university qualification in mathematics. With unwavering determination, she applied and was accepted into a mathematical sciences program at TU Dublin, ultimately graduating.

Megan Dooley now hopes to inspire young individuals by sharing her story, emphasizing that their Leaving Cert results should not be the determining factor in their pursuit of higher education. She asserts the importance of informing students that there are numerous paths to achieving their academic aspirations, regardless of their CAO points or Leaving Cert performance.