If at first...

It is notoriously difficult to get a place to train as a social worker, and I suppose that is as it should be.  This is a career that really needs people with the academic qualifications, but who also know the stress filled context they are choosing to work in as well as looking forward to the rewards.  I can't think of anyone better than our Samantha Wilson.  She didn't get in at first application, but she applied herself to an HNC and volunteering.  With these two extras, her years of experience in the workplace and her good A levels, she is now at Queen's University and loving it.  This is a really good story for those of you currently planning your future.  Your future is made up of many things.

Scott Edward Hamill - Author

Scott Hamill walked in today to present Kevin with a signed copy of his novel.  Scott studies Spanish and creative writing at the University of Lancaster, and is about to set off for his year in Spain, the lucky being.  The novel will be placed in the college library once I have finished it.

Meadbh in Galway

We also received a gorgeous photo of Meadbh ni Hir, as she begins her Irish course at the University of Galway.  Meadbh worked particularly hard in year 14 to earn the grades she needed and ended up with a choice of courses.  She picked Galway for the opportunity for interpreting, translating and lots of media work.  I have no doubt we will be seeing and hearing from Meadbh again, next time over the airwaves.  Meadbh was one of our first three Irish Medium students and we are particularly proud that she has made her career in Irish.

Rebecca's Next Success

We have received a beautiful photo of Dr Rebecca Cunningham, just graduated with her PhD.  She now heads off to Reno, Nevada to a research post which will be the start of her glittering career.  Very well done Rebecca.  We really appreciate the fact that you have come in to speak to our current science students.  Your success has certainly inspired them!

Gracious Grace

It was wonderful to have a visit from Grace Sergant, who has just graduated with a first class honour degree in nursing, and has a new job in A&E at St James' Hospital, Leeds.  I will feel very confident of a full recovery should I ever fall under a bus in Leeds.  She looked gorgeous too, and happy and fulfilled.

Two for One

Kevin has just run into Stehen Lowry in Manchester.  Stephen is graduated and working for a Manchester law firm specialising in intellectual property rights.  Now that's an interesting one!  Living with him is Conor O'Neill, now also graduate and working in recruitment.  He is currently recruiting for the oil industry, but is actually in holiday in Marbella courtesy of his firm.  Great to see Stephen and to hear about the two of them.

Corinne White has managed to get herself an Erasmus term in Barcelona as part of her nursing degree and seems to be having a fabulous time.  Her photo on FaceBook is just a wee bit disturbing however.  Aaaaagh!

We were so pleased to see Naoise Davey and Seamus Fitzpatrick who called in to update us on their news.  Seamus is at school in Australia and about two feet taller than when we last saw him.  He looks very healthy and happy.  Naoise is on top of the world.  He was washing dishes for a living when the chef asked him if he'd like to move on and learn to cook.  I got an enthusiastic lesson on baking a pavlova!  Naoise is starting formal training soon and already has built up plenty of experience.  He is really excited, his dad is really chuffed and I am so delighted that he has found such a positive, giving, nurturing thing to love doing.

Marie Looking Gorgeous

Representing GLYNI at the Pride of NI Awards was our Marie O'Halloran.  She is looking fantastic, though no more waist length hair.  She moved from Shimna at Malone Integrated College and is currently studying art at Belfast Metropolitan College.  Great to see you Marie.

Distinguished Bravery Award

Decky Allister has been presented with a Distinguished Conduct Award for his rescue of three of his neighbours from a burning building earlier this year.  Decky had himself just undergone surgery on his had when he pulled a woman and two men from the burning building in the early hours of the morning.  Decky rescued me once from a smokey junior disco, when the smoke machine went wrong.  That was a very trivial episode compared with the life threatening situation he was faced with last May, but I was very pleased to see him.  I was stuck outside on a winter's night with a horde of wee people dressed only in their disco gear.  We are very, very proud of Decky.

Tanya's in Lille

I was in Oxford at the weekend and thinking about Tanya, who isn't there this year, because she is on her year out in Lille and loving it.  She returns next year to Oriel College Oxford to complete her French degree.

Ollie's Umbrella

Ollie Elsholtz has graduated in music = production, jazz and all sorts of things, and has set up his own recording label, which is going really well. It's absolutely brilliant and I hope he will call him and give us a saxephone blast next time he is home.

Liam's Scholarship

This week's headline in the MO. 'Newcastle student receives prestigious scholarship' and its our Liam Baron who has been awarded and IET FUSE scholarship, which is worth £4,000. Liam is studying MEng Engineering at Durham University and loving every minute of it. The Institute of Engineering and Technology took into account his Distinction in the International Physics Olympiad and the full marks he received in his A level physics module in making the award. IETAwards and Prizes Manager Linda Deleay said the scholarships are only awarded to the most outstanding candidates. "To be in receipt of one of these awards is a particular accolade," she added. Yahoo! (that was me, not Linda Deleay!)

Steven Corin Thomas McVeigh

Steven came in to visit today, and to tell us that he would be setting up in interior design while he consulted about the best route to furthering his career in drama. Steven already had a place at a prestigious drama school across the water, but had decided it was very important to him to stay in Ireland. He called to see his wonderful drama teacher, Catherine Kelly, and while he was there, his mobile went, and he was offered a place in the inaugural year of the brand new Lir School of Drama at Trinity College Dublin, which is a collaboration with the world famous RADA. This is the most fantastic news, and you will all have to paint your own houses now! Stuff interior design! Steven would be the first to say that his success owes so much to Catherine. She left the beautiful purple, greenroom Steven designed for her, perhaps for the last time as wageslave Shimna staff member BUT she is now Shimna associate and friend, and will be back in all sorts of capacities. We wish her all the very best of luck in her own new drama career.

Stephen Samples

It was great to see Stephen Trainor in the picture of CAFRE students from the Loughry campus out sampling the real world of the bakery industry during their visit to the Howell House bakery at Lisburn.

Jonathan Killen on the Underground

Turns out he actually works on the London Underground. He came in to get his passport form signed, and it was great to see him. I wish I had asked more questions though. While I did the signing, he set off for a look round the school to see what has changed. He was very pleased to hear about classmates Kerry Smyth and Ryan Doran.

A Philosophical Cyclist

We ran into Shane Cooney on one of his trips home. He transferred from his philosophy degree to study history and media studies. At the same time he kept up his mania for cycling, training in high level bike maintenance and travels the world with teams competing in international competition. He is looking ahead to the time when he may want to settle down, and might consider primary teaching.

Ryan Doran Teaching

Ryan Doran is following up his Journalism degree from Sunderland with a conversion course, which picks up from his A level maths and has won him a place on a maths teacher training course. On P6 Day, pupils from All Children's IPS joined us for language learning activities, and lo and behold, the staff member with them was Ryan himself. Every prospective teacher has to do some observing and volunteering before they start training so that they can prove to themselves that they actually like children. Ryan looked as if he liked them as much as they obviously liked him.

Graham Briggs, Architect

Graham took the smart route to his degree in Architecture with which he graduates this summer. He graduated first several years ago in Architectural Technology, worked a few years and earned a bit before completing the lengthy training. He has kept up his interest in sustainable design, which is important for all our futures.

Naming her Salary

Kerry Smyth has graduated with a first class honours degree in Actuarial Studies from Queens University, Belfast. So well has she done that she has job interviews lined up this week and next. With this kind of qualification, she really will be able to name her salary. We were so pleased to hear her good news and look forward to hearing which firm she picks.