Originally published in print September 2020.
When I was eighteen years old, the thought of going to college seemed like the biggest undertaking of my life. I had applied to do a TSM in Drama and Classical Civilisations, and I was reluctantly optimistic as to what the four years awaiting me would bring. Everyone I knew from secondary school seemed to have a definitive job that they would graduate into; becoming a doctor, dentist, accountant — and this worried me. Would my Arts degree manage to carry me to a purpose in life, or would I end up regretting choosing such a broad path? Fortunately I had way less to worry about than I thought.
My four years in Trinity College did a lot more for me than merely my getting a degree —under the guidance of the fantastic staff in the Classics and Drama departments I found myself discovering new opportunities daily that I had never even thought of as options to pursue. Although I loved Classics, my heart was with Drama, and I tried to get as involved as I possibly could. I continued to foster my interest in reading and studying plays and soon found myself becoming creatively involved in them. Writing scripts became a constant, especially in my final two years. I also became involved in stage and production management, and managed to successfully stage and production manage numerous debut shows in the Samuel Beckett theatre. Being a part of something that meant so much for so many people, that would be broadcast to audiences for three special nights, gave me so much enjoyment that even to this day I frequently remember almost shaking with excitement and pride as I saw a play that everyone in the crew and cast had worked so hard on. I encourage anyone who gets the chance to to participate in shows as much as possible, whether its within the boundaries of the department or the DU Players society (the latter also played an important role in my getting hands-on experience, in a welcoming and friendly environment, and I would encourage anyone to participate as much as possible in the society).
Of course, it would be hard to forget the friends I made along the way — each person I met both within and outside of the course made my college experience what it was. I was able to learn so much from every person I met and they all helped to foster the love that I had for Drama. Whether it was meeting someone in the corridor outside a classroom and having a quick chat, or simply nodding at someone as I passed them in Front Square, everybody I encountered was lovely, and I wish every single one of them the best of luck going forward. I truly believe that by having such a wonderful environment in college it helped me to fully reach my potential in my academic work.
It’s impossible to summarise how I feel about college now. The four years of my life passed me by before I could stop and fully take everything in — every time I had finished a show or a project I would get swept off my feet again, totally caught up in student life and the opportunities it provided. Yes, I may be graduating into another recession, but I fully believe that doing an Arts course taught me more about life than any other path I could have taken. I loved every single moment of it, and if you decide to follow the same path, you will as well.
