Leaving Cert Subjects
Kevin Power, Resource Manager
What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?
I took the regular subjects in school and I had a great interest in Geography and especially in Geology. But I cannot say that any of these subjects influenced my career path. However, after leaving school I worked for various forest harvesting contractors in my locality. It was from them that I developed a love of forestry and for the people who work in forestry. I would advise anybody to get some work experience in an area they hope to pursue in college.
Sharon Carty, Opera Singer
What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?
My advice if you're uncertain about choosing subjects is to choose things you're interested in, rather than what you think will be good for your career. A broad education will serve you really well not only in terms of college options, but also can enrich your life outside of school and work. I have a huge interest in astronomy and loved studying physics in school, and although I'd never have had the talent in Maths to study it at 3rd level or have a career in it, it meant I can really enjoy reading popular science books and keep up with what's going on in space exploration, as a hobby. For Leaving Certificate I studied English, Irish, Maths, Physics, Music, Biology, German and Classical Studies. Looking back, the subjects I did (specifically English, Music, Classics and German) meant that I was well-equipped with a lot of background knowledge that was helpful in my career as a singer, in terms of literature, language and musical training. Without having studied Music at 2nd level, with the wonderful teacher I had, I am 100% certain I wouldn't be a singer today.
Sarah Tenanty, Finance Operations
What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?
I studied the required subjects such as Maths, English, Irish and opted for Accounting, Business Studies, French and Home Economics. I really enjoyed working with numbers and Business Studies gave me a good foundation of what to expect in the working environment. Accounting and Maths were my favourite subjects and they had a big influence on my course choice.