With the rising cost of rent and living across the country, I believe that student grants and financial help should also be raised to make sure students have the best possible chance of successfully completing college.

What grants are available for students?

There are a few places you can look which provide grants for students. The main one is SUSI, which contributes to all costs which you may incur while going to college, including the fees. Some other special grants are available, such as HEAR and DARE as additional help with costs which may occur, such as books, rent, etc. Other grants like BTEA are available for returning to education.

To be eligible for any of these grants, you need to be thoroughly assessed and meet a lot of criteria. As the largest grant provider in Ireland, SUSI requires very detailed and extensive information about you and your family (if you are considered a dependent). SUSI determines how much of the grant you are eligible for based on your family income – that includes the income of everyone in your family, including you. Not just your parents. Depending on this amount, you will be awarded all of, or some of the grant.

Costs

With the average rent in Dublin already extremely high and rising fast and in the midst of a national rent and homelessness crisis, I believe that the level of grant awarded should be raised to help with the increasing costs, and that all students should be allocated some form of financial help. A lot of us are trying to become independent, and relying on our parents for money makes this an impossible task.  

As an undergraduate, I was awarded the full fee payment and maintenance grant because my family income was under the lowest threshold and I was going to a college more than 45 kilometres from my home address. This means that I qualified for the highest rate of help possible from SUSI for someone going into college. While this massively helped with having the fees paid, I wonder about those who passed the household income limit and did not qualify for the fee payment. Not only do students in those situations have to pay over €3,000 in fees per year for the next three years, which they may not have, but they have to somehow pay rent and bills with a maintenance grant (if they qualified for it on it’s own) that doesn’t cover it.

Rents and living expenses with help

I was given €336.11 on the dot each month from SUSI, for nine months. This meant I had €3025 to live off for nine months, which was meant to cover my rent, bills, transport, food, medical expenses and such. While I was grateful for whatever help I got, it was nowhere near enough to cover what I needed, and this was before the rent crisis even began.

Now, your average rent for a box room in Dublin is about €550 a month. Unless you’re willing to commute long distances by bus or train from surrounding areas such as Kildare, but even still, you’re looking at about €350 to €400 a month minimum for anywhere relatively livable in a shared house. The rate of the maintenance grant is still the same as when I qualified for it, meaning it is still only €336.11 a month for those who qualify for the full maintenance. There is also a special rate of maintenance grant which can get you up to €657.22 per month if you meet the criteria. This either doesn’t, or barely just covers rent. While I agree with students working part-time while they’re studying is a great way for them to learn good time management and have some money of their own to save, I don’t agree with them having to work so many hours at a minimum wage that negatively affects their education just to be able to afford to live.  

Work

We, as students, are aware that the world does not owe us anything. But for years, society has been telling us that college is a necessity, and now that we’re here with desires to attend, it’s priced as a luxury that very few of us can afford without help. It’s not that we’re lazy and don’t want to work. Most of us have worked what hours we could while giving ourselves time to study for the Leaving Certificate, and work full-time in the summer. But it is still nearly impossible to raise the money we would now need to last us a year of education with living costs while paying thousands in fees.

Working full-time during college is also impossible unless you skip lectures. If we rely on the grant to help us with at least the fees, we need to meet the requirements for this and one of the requirements is that the course must be full-time. So being in college full-time, Monday to Friday, with enough time to do recommended readings, assignments and project work makes being able to work more than 20 hours a week on the weekends unlikely. And even so if you can manage to take up two, ten hour shifts a week, you get no time to unwind and relax which is detrimental to your mental health.

My argument isn’t that students should get everything handed to them and have an easy ride. Just that our grades and college attendance should not have to suffer to take time out to stay out of debt. This debt isn’t from going wild and taking trips every week – it’s simply from being able to afford to feed ourselves properly and pay for heating. With a changing society, the help available to students should be increasing enough to allow us to be able to live comfortably with that help plus a part-time wage.

This article was written by a SpunOut.ie volunteer. Check out our volunteering opportunities here and get in touch if you’re interested in getting involved.

Stress is defined as the body’s response to any kind of demand or threat it recognises. The ‘fight or flight’ response is also known as ‘the stress response’. When talking about stress all I constantly hear, no matter where I go, is competition. What I mean by competition is those people who, when they hear you’re tired, they insist you cannot be as tired as they are because they’ve done so much more work than you. I hear this happening most in interactions between young people and working adults. It’s such a common practice that there are even memes made about it on Facebook.

I am fully of the belief that all stress is valid. If you think back to when you were a child, something that might have stressed you out (though you might not have been able to identify it as stress at the time) would be someone not allowing you to play with them at lunch time. We all had that experience where everyone in the group with the game would tell you to ask someone else to join because it was ‘their’ game, and the stress response was either to leave, dejected, or cause a fight.

If you think back to when you were a young teenager, something that may have stressed you out at that stage would have been starting secondary school. Many of us, at the time, opted for the ‘cool kid’ exterior, or the ‘shy, reserved’ personality as our first impressions.

When some adults feel their level of stress is more valid than that of a young person’s, I think they are not fully taking into account a young person’s point of view. For example, while the most pressing things which cause stress in the life of an adult are normally mortgages, careers or relationship conflicts, young adults have very different priorities. I feel that adults sometimes tend to forget the way their mind worked in their young lives, and are so wrapped up in their stresses of today that they neglect to remember how they felt at that time in their lives. We are all guilty of doing it. If a young child comes to us and whines that someone else took their doll, we sometimes tell them to just find something else to play with because we’re tired dealing with our own problems. That’s dismissing their stress.

Social inclusion stress

While the outcomes of something not being done as an adult may have more consequences on a number of people’s lives as a result, such as not paying a bill and having the electricity shut off, young adults feel the same about the potential consequences of their actions. When a young adult falls out with their friend group at school, a common reaction of their parent is to tell them that they don’t need them anyway. This is because adult friendships, while they can be strong, are far less reliant on each other than young adult friendships. Adults have a wider network of people with larger opportunities for developing new friendships. Young adults have a limited network on which they rely for inclusion. Adults routinely forget to consider that a young person’s whole life revolves around school, and they spend most of their time there. Being isolated from a friend group is a huge stress for students.  

Relationship stress

Another stress often dismissed, which is probably the most commonly dismissed, is relationship stress. Relationships when you’re in your younger teenage years are so intense because your hormones are constantly fluctuating. Because of this, there seems to be a lot of belief that relationships in your teenager years are always for fun and rarely serious. Many adults believe that because of these hormones and maturity levels, that the likelihood of the relationship lasting is next to nothing. Because of this, if the young couple breaks up, the feelings of loss and sadness of the person is largely ignored.

This should not be the case. Break-ups are hard enough to cope with as a grown adult, so why are adults so dismissive of the feelings of young people when they go through the same thing, just with less self-esteem and self-assurance?

Academic stress

Academic stress for young people is one of the most pressing issues they have to deal with. Previously, adults did not consider this as bad as their work stress, however that thankfully seems to be changing slowly. While work stress is horrible for adults to have to deal with, students have more pressure (in my opinion) on them with academics. Student’s futures all lie with these exams, and they are scared into believing that if they mess this up, they’re done for, when that really isn’t the case. In some cases, stress caused at work for adults is fleeting and passes quickly, whereas academic stress lasts years for young people.

Long story short, if it is something which doesn’t personally stress you out, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t stress others. Other people’s perceptions and stages of life should be considered when offering advice and support.

This article was written by a SpunOut.ie volunteer. Check out our volunteering opportunities here and get in touch if you’re interested in getting involved.

Edamame is an Irish eco-product company who have now launched a brand new range of environmentally friendly, reusable coffee cups. The ‘Coffee with a Cause’ range was the idea of Zoe Hertelendi, Edamame’s founder.  

The product

The new range of coffee cups, entitled ‘Coffee with a Cause’, are three designs which have been provided by three Irish artists, including a very talented seven year old, Una Lovric.

The cups are made from bamboo fibre which is the world’s fastest growing and most sustainable crop. The cup also comes with a recyclable silicone lid and sleeve. They are BPA (bisphenol A) and phthalate-free, and free of petrochemical plastic which makes them incredibly eco-friendly.

The artists

Joe Caslin is a well known Irish street artist whose work has previously been put on display in the National Gallery of Ireland. His work is normally done as a large scale mural, and in black and white. His work is known for being visually commanding and powerful in the fight to spark social change.

Joe has designed a cup for the cause which he has entitled ‘Root Before We Rise’. Joe’s designed cup is available at a 14 oz size.

Gavin Leane, an acclaimed artist and photographer, is known for his work photographing all aspects of life. On his website, you can find samples of his work under the topics of people, animals, urban, pets, nature and miscellaneous.

Gavin provided the design ‘A Good Time for Change’ to help support the ‘Coffee with a Cause’ project. Gavin’s designed cup is available at a 14 oz size.

The final design comes from local young artist, Una Lovric. Una has entitled her design ‘Love’, and her design has been described as arresting and sophisticated. At just seven years old,  Una uses watercolours and delicate patterns to create her unique cup, and her design is the only one which is available in both a 12 oz and 14 oz size.  

Proceeds

20% of the proceeds of each cup sold will be donated to a charity of the artists choice.

The proceeds from Joe Caslin’s design will go to Pieta House, a charity which works to prevent suicide and self-harm.

The proceeds from Gavin Leane’s design will go to Depaul, a charity which works with the homeless and those at risk of homelessness.  

The proceeds from Una’s design will go to Our Lady’s Children Hospital in Crumlin, which is Ireland’s largest paediatric hospital.

Where can I get one?

The ‘Coffee with a Cause’ range are available alongside the full range of Edamame products online at www.edamameeco.com. There are also available to buy in-store in Dublin, at Platform 61 on South William Street. There is also a special pop-up in Belfast which are selling the cups. You can find this pop-up at Harvey Norman, Boucher Road, Belfast.  

The cups cost €14.95 each for the 14 oz size, and Una’s 12 oz design is priced at €13.95.

Contacts

If you would like any further information on Edamame itself or the ‘Coffee with a Cause’, you can visit the website – www.edamameeco.com – or follow them on their social media platforms:

Facebook – edamame.eco

Instagram – edamame.eco

Twitter – ecoedamame

I thankfully qualified for the SUSI grant for my undergraduate degree, but every cent that came from that went on rent, bills and transport. While I was in first year of my undergraduate degree, I knew I wanted to do a Masters, so I researched how much I would need. The prices for courses were making my head spin – roughly €10,000 for fees, and that was before taking into account rent, bills, transport and food. I had about €170 to my name in December of my first year of college, so I had to knuckle down.

Set your goal

The first thing you need to do is research, and set yourself a goal. Research shows a higher chance of success if you picture yourself achieving a set goal and work towards it. If I was ever tempted to buy myself something I didn’t need or buy myself a takeaway when I had food in the fridge, I thought about having to re-earn those savings for college. In my case, trying to earn that much money in a short few years, every bit counted.

Find a job that works around you

I started applying for part-time jobs in the local area of the college. Pickings were slim, because jobs which were flexible enough for students were snapped up quickly. So, I had to work a commuting cost into my budget to look elsewhere for work. I asked family members to look out for any part-time jobs which may be interested in taking on students that I could easily travel to.

It took a while so I began looking for other work which was easier to come by, but not necessarily steady. Babysitting was one which was easy enough to get, and paid well. Every time I got paid, I went straight to the bank and lodged it into my account to make sure I wouldn’t spend it. Luck struck for me one day and a friend of mine who did dog-walking asked would I be interested in taking on the job. I said yes and it was the best job I ever had. I took the dog between lectures for two hours, three times a week. Not only did it keep my head level with study, help with my mental health and give me a chance to exercise, but it paid me €15 an hour as well.

Finally, I managed to secure a part-time job at the end of second year and worked 30 hours a week while studying. All that money went directly into my bank and stayed there, and the restaurant worked around my college hours so that I could do both. They made me supervisor about a year into the job, and I managed to up my hours to 35 a week, while studying full-time, dog-walking and tutoring as well. Almost every cent that didn’t go on rent and bills went into savings.

Cut down on extra expenses, watch your spending

Going to the cinema can be traded for watching TV, going out for dinner can be traded for cooking at home. Studying and doing assignments is also a great way to fill your time, be successful in college and save.

One thing though – make sure your rent is always paid. My Dad always taught me that a roof over your head is the most important thing, and if you have good friends and family in your life, someone will always be willing to lend a helping hand if you’re struggling with the rest.

Of course, you do need to treat yourself every now and again. What I would do is round myself off to the nearest €100 – if i had €120, I used to limit myself to €20. That way, I could still go see a movie with friends, or treat myself to a SuperMacs with everyone else. Living on a small budget is very very difficult, but doable.

Change from branded food to cheaper alternatives

Aldi and Lidl are your best friends. A good way to make sure you don’t spend too much is through shopping here instead of in Tesco or Supervalu. For your fruits and vegetables, Aldi and Lidl always have the Super Saver deals where you can get specific ones every week for 50c each. They are great for buying cheaper own-brand yogurts, milks and dairy which taste extremely similar to the branded and more expensive options.

Because meat is so expensive, buying meat in bulk and freezing it in different containers is a great way to save. Most butchers do a deal which is €20 and you get five or six different packs of various meats. This meat is normally great quality and it is easy to separate it and freeze it in freezer bags to make sure it doesn’t go off and will last you almost two weeks if you’re clever about it. Just make sure you take it out of the freezer to defrost the night before you want to cook it.

Leap Cards and student discount

Use your student discounts. Even if it is only 10%, it is still 10% more than you had before. Do not be afraid to ask whether a shop offers student discount or not – it’s there for a reason.

If you are living in Dublin, Leap Cards are fantastic for saving money on travel. Student leap cards cap at €20 per week if you only use Dublin Bus, and €27 if you only use DART, LUAS and IrishRail services. If you mix the two, your card caps at €30 per week.

So…

By scrimping and saving and working as hard as I could for over four years, I managed to pay off my fees in full for my Masters in one go and still have a nice little nest egg left for myself after. These are just some of the helpful money-saving tips that helped me in little ways over the years, and while it was very very difficult at times, it was well worth it in the end.

This article was written by a SpunOut.ie volunteer. Check out our volunteering opportunities here and get in touch if you’re interested in getting involved.

Vaping is an electronic version of smoking cigarettes, where vapour instead of smoke is inhaled from an e-cigarette. E-cigarettes do not contain tobacco or carbon monoxide, however they do contain nicotine and other chemicals that can be harmful and addictive.

E-cigarettes consist of a battery, a heating element or coil, and a cartridge which usually contains a solution of propylene glycol, water, flavouring and nicotine. When the user inhales, the battery heats the element and this produces the vapour.

The safety and health effects of e-cigarettes have not been thoroughly assessed or monitored over a long period of time. It is currently recommended that they should not be used .

Is vaping addictive?

The liquid in e-cigarettes contains nicotine which is a highly addictive chemical. When nicotine is inhaled into the lungs it is quickly released into the blood and up to the brain. Nicotine triggers the release of the chemical dopamine in the brain. Dopamine temporarily can help to regulate mood and behaviour. The brain quickly adapts to nicotine and, like most addictive substances, the brain needs more and more nicotine to produce the same effect. This is why nicotine is so addictive.

Can vaping help calm my anxiety?

Although nicotine may seem to make the user feel relaxed, once the nicotine levels begin to fall after about 20 minutes a person will experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, feelings of stress and increased cravings. Continuing to vape will increase nicotine levels in the blood and ease these cravings, but makes the vapour dependent on using nicotine in order to relieve withdrawals. This creates a vicious cycle where you are vaping to relieve the anxiety caused by nicotine withdrawal in the first place.

Nicotine dependance can have negative health effects, especially on your mental health. Nicotine cravings disrupt sleep, alter your brain chemistry and mood, and can lead to patterns of addiction.

Read more about coping techniques to help lessen anxiety.

What effect does vaping have on my lungs?

Although vaping may not lead to lung cancer to the same extreme as cigarettes, it may lead to other lung diseases. Speak to your GP if you develop any respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath and fever. Avoid buying unregulated products on the black market.

In general, vaping makes our lungs more vulnerable to infection. There is a type of cell in our lungs called the alveolar macrophages or “dust cells”. These cells stop irritants such as dust and infectious bacteria from passing into our airways. They are also involved in lung inflammation which is a defence mechanism in the lungs to protect against infection.

Can vaping help me quit smoking?

Vaping is not recommended as a way to help quit smoking. Vaping can lead to increased nicotine addiction, and vaping instead of smoking does not help to break the relationship a person will have with smoking.

A person who chooses to vape instead of smoking will still repeat smoking behaviours as part of their lifestyle, they will maintain their addiction to nicotine and the routine in and of itself is an addictive factor involved in smoking.

What is the best way to quit smoking?

The recommended way to stop smoking is to use an evidenced-based medication such as nicotine replacement therapy or NRT. NRT can come in various forms such as patches, gum, lozenges, oral sprays and more.

There are also other stop smoking medications that can very effective; a doctor, nurse or other qualified practitioner can give you all the relevant information about these medications and prescribe them if they are suitable for you.

Vaping as a young person

Some people are choosing to vape instead of smoke, viewing it as a less harmful option. However, until long term research has been carried out, we will not know the true health effects of vaping. If a young person chooses to smoke tobacco or vape, they are still inhaling nicotine which is highly addictive. The younger a person tries nicotine the greater the negative effects can be. As a young person the brain is more vulnerable to the effects of addictive substances. Nicotine can disrupt brain development, interfere with long-term cognitive functioning, and increase the risk of various mental and physical health problems later in life. The safest option is to avoid smoking or vaping completely.

Help and advice to QUIT smoking

Disclaimer: There is more than one way to quit smoking. You may need to try a few different things to find what is right for you. For advice and support on quitting, visit SpunOut.ie/QUIT

 

We have all seen those romantic comedies where one of the best friends realise too late that they are in love with the other. This realisation is normally sparked by a new relationship or an out-of-the-blue engagement. Then by the end of the movie, 9 times out of 10, the best friends both realise they truly love each other, and get together. Honestly, I think many of us question whether the relationship would actually work since it took them so long to realise their feelings in the first place … so would it?

My partner and I have been best friends since we were 18, and we are now almost a year together at 23. Ironically, I used to be strongly against the idea of best friends becoming romantically involved, for fear of ruining a good friendship. Now though, there are a number of reasons why I feel falling in love with your best friend (and vice versa) is actually the ideal situation to find yourself in.

Why I think it works

There is already a foundation of understanding and respect

Because you have been friends for so long already, you already have a strong, solid base of respect and understanding for a relationship. Think about your best friend and how much you love and respect them. Are they one of the first people you call when something good or bad happens to you? Are they your first call when you have a free afternoon and want to hang out? Best friends know exactly how to help you in ways new partners don’t sometimes. This is because you have built a foundation of trust with them, and they have been around for longer. So, naturally, when you progress into a romantic relationship with your best friend, these little details most couples have to learn about each other are already well known between you both.

They already accept all your flaws, so you can be yourself

I know for a fact that when I was in relationships before this one (they were all with people I had known for less than a couple of months), I hid a lot of my flaws, my anxiety and my opinions. This was so I would be considered more easy-going and more fun for the new guy in my life – I was basically not being myself. The person who I always vented my frustrations to and cried in front of was my best friend. Your best friend is almost always your rock and knows exactly what to say to help you feel better, because chances are that they have stuck by your side through tough experiences over the years you have known each other. This ingrained trust is crucial in any successful relationship, romantic or not.

They already know and get along with your support systems

Best friends will have gradually built up trust with you over the years, as well as with the majority of your other close friends, family members and colleagues. If you get into a relationship with your best friend further down the line, the terrifying ordeal of meeting their family and friends is completely irrelevant. They likely all already get along and will fully welcome you as a part of their family, because they know and trust you.

They already know the most important things about you

All of the important experiences you went through that have shaped you as a person, both good and bad, have already been shared between you both. We have all had that experience where we’ve stayed up until 3am when we shouldn’t have, talking about every taboo topic under the sun and revealing our deepest darkest secrets to our best friends. Breaking down these walls and trusting someone enough to let them in on everything you think about the world is the most vulnerable thing you can do. It is experiences like this that make the closest bond.

The comfort level is unrivalled

You can fight, and know you’ll make up. You can be as chilled out as you want on your days off; lying on the sofa with no make-up and wearing sweats, watching Netflix and ordering takeaway for dinner, with no judgement because they will always be up for joining you. You can sit in complete silence for hours, reading, doing assignments, working or whatever you might want, without once questioning if they’re bored of you. There is no pressure to have to entertain each other or always be in a good mood, because they know you. This is a big deal for me because I have pretty bad anxiety, and am constantly questioning whether people genuinely like having me around or not, and I avoid conflict like the plague. This level of comfort is the dream.

They understand how you operate

Particularly from personal experiences and from a point of view of anxiety, because I have been so close to my friend for so long, he knows what I need when I’m not having a good day. Being able to openly admit you’re struggling without feeling like you’re being a burden to someone is the most relieving feeling imaginable. Best friends tend to be able to tell if your smile isn’t reaching your eyes and will ask you later when you’re alone what’s going on, and you’ll realise you have absolutely no fear opening up and telling them. This closeness is what I feel makes a friendship so special, when they see the pain behind your eyes.

However…

Everyone is different and no two relationships are the same. So while you’re obviously close to your best friend, you may not want to be in a romantic relationship with them, and that’s completely fine.

If you feel like you may be falling for your best friend, make sure you’re 100% sure. While in some cases it may not work, if it does, it can be one of the best feelings ever.

However, for me, that old cliche of marriage being like a sleepover with your best friend every night doesn’t exist for no reason.

This article was written by a SpunOut.ie volunteer. Check out our volunteering opportunities here and get in touch if you’re interested in getting involved.

I wasn’t born with a poker face. In fact, when I did decide to finally arrive 2 weeks late, I came out screaming, as if to say “why the hell am I here?” Truth be told my little squashed face said it all, and unfortunately after 24 years, it still does. Ever hear the phrase “written all over your face?” Well this is a phrase that would follow me through every journey I would ever take.

Sometimes it was a blessing, but mostly it was a curse. I would arrive in the door from secondary school to be greeted by my mom. All it took was one look and she knew. Back then I didn’t realise I was communicating in a completely different language but as I got older, I realised that it was in fact my body which spoke louder than my words ever could. Depending on the situation I would be greeted with “what happened?”, “you got the part!”, or worst-case scenario, “well, who is he?”

After years of being easily read I decided to start a little project, a kind of “what you see is not what you get” type of project. So, I began to observe my facial expressions, eye movement, limb movement and other various postures and gestures I would make around certain people. What I discovered was astonishing.

Funny Feelings

I discovered that when words fail, our bodies truly speak. Have you ever walked into a room,  an office or even a dressing room and instantly felt uncomfortable or unwanted? If you were to recall the same feeling to a friend later that day they wouldn’t have noticed anything? They ask questions like “but did anyone say anything mean to you?” or “did they ignore you?” The answer is always no, but simply because they didn’t have to. Their bodies said it for them. This feeling is unfortunately heightened for someone who is highly sensitive and they don’t just pick up on these signals, we actually start to feel them too. That eye roll you thought no one noticed, your slightly turned body language, or even your crossed arms. Yes, it is noted, and it is most definitely felt.

But you don’t just have to be highly sensitive to feel the wrath of a toxic atmosphere. For example, another “funny feeling” can come from when someone tells you “they are delighted for you” or “they are so proud of you” and yet every fibre of their body language is telling you quite the opposite. That smile that doesn’t go beyond their cheek and rests in their eyes or that icy embrace that makes you feel like you need to be thawed after. It’s like being told you’re pretty, but you could always be prettier at the same time.

Don’t get me wrong, we are all human. Maybe we really wanted the job that person just got, or we really liked that boy, or even we really wanted that last biscuit we said we didn’t. The fact that we didn’t get what we want does not mean we should allow the person to feel that void too. If anything, it should empower us to dig a little deeper for what we do want, because I’m sure when we finally do get that thing or person we have been dreaming of, that same person will be there to be “absolutely delighted for you”, and they will genuinely mean it (even if it’s about the biscuit).

Puppeteer

During this little project I watched countless TED Talks, read insightful articles entitled “body language for success” and even watched interactions between friends of mine who were just getting into new relationships themselves. The smallest things I found the most interesting. Like how my friends’ feet shifted towards her new romance as soon as he entered the room, or how suddenly her posture became bigger somehow. It was as if an invisible string conducted by a puppeteer had forced her arms open, uncrossed her legs, while simultaneously pulling her dimples high to meet him in order to form a smile. But there was no invisible string, just a different feeling and one that made her completely relaxed. When he left, I observed her arms cross once again, her ankles tuck into themselves and those dimples left to relax once again.

4th Language

I suppose what I’m trying to say is that we can all improve on what we are trying to convey to the world. Like any language, it takes practice and we aren’t going to be fluent overnight. The next time you are having a conversation with a friend or a stranger have a look at what you’re doing, what you’re saying or maybe what you’re not. Are you open towards them, are you nodding in agreement, are you smiling all the way up into your eyes? It could be the very difference in creating a genuine friendship, being promoted, getting a lead in a play, or just being more confident in general. And the next time someone asks you how many languages you speak, instead of the generic “English, Irish, German”, now tell them 4! Your future CV can thank me!

This article was written by a SpunOut.ie volunteer. Check out our volunteering opportunities here and get in touch if you’re interested in getting involved.

The period between Christmas and new year’s is one where time sort of seems to stop. Nobody really knows what date or what time it is. Meals typically consist of turkey leftovers, biscuits and chocolates. Topics of conversation might include who started the new row of the milk tray, who ate the last Maltesers in the box of celebrations and are there still the purple Roses. Time often passes through watching cheesy movies on TV, having a chance to catch up with family and friends, reading, lazing in your pjs in front of the fire, enjoying your Christmas presents, the unavoidable trips to the pub and maybe even a dip in the sea. This usually relaxing time away from the frenzy and flurry of our everyday routines comes abruptly to an end when New Year’s Eve arrives. Some people love the excitement of the parties, the fireworks, the countdown. I on the other hand am one of the people who dreads the advent of diet talk, unattainable resolutions to exercise more and eat healthier and thereby be a better person. In this article I want to challenge the concept of new year’s resolutions and the idea that this is a new start which is perpetuated by the media and advertisement industry.

ur lives didn’t always revolve around the clock. We didn’t always have the pressure of the years ticking by and the feeling that we have to achieve something and have hit certain milestones by certain arbitrary points in our lives. This isn’t a race. Sometimes you are ahead, sometimes you are behind. Think about it. It took Trump 70 years to become President. Our life will pass us faster than we think it will so enjoy each moment as it comes. Try not to put pressure on yourself or think that because it’s a new year you have to set out to achieve.

I’m not saying that setting goals for yourself is a bad thing or that you shouldn’t be ambitious. Setting yourself attainable targets and planning how to achieve them is great and can help boost your self-esteem and your self-worth. My point is, you can always make resolutions, every day is a new day, every hour a new one and every minute brings new opportunities. You don’t have to wait until January of each year to set resolutions and just because it's January doesn’t mean you have to set goals either if now isn’t the right time for you.

Last of all, I want to point out that you don’t necessarily need to better yourself. The author Matt Haig posted a tweet using the analogy of a Russian doll saying we aren’t filled with infinite better versions of ourselves to discover. This isn’t a game of Mario where you constantly need to level up. Maybe work on accepting yourself first and realising that you are filled with strengths and not just flaws. There will always be things we don’t like about ourselves or that we could improve so why not accept ourselves for all our imperfections which at the end of the day make us who we are.

This follows on nicely to the fact that if you do decide to set resolutions, ask yourself if they’re for the right reasons. If you want to change yes, this is the perfect opportunity to do so, but make sure your new devotion to exercising or changing your food habits is out of self-love and not out of self-loathing and guilt for the food you had over Christmas. Food is energy and not a judgement of our value or our worth. Some days we eat more, some days we eat less. Our weight fluctuates naturally so there is no point in feeling guilty about what you ate over Christmas.

If you do want to get more active now it’s the New Year, there are loads of great ways to do it. It can start out small like walking up to the shops or your friend’s house instead of driving or getting a lift. You can take the stairs not the escalator. There are loads of YouTube videos with yoga or workout videos for people of all abilities which also saves on an expensive gym membership. Even dancing around your living room counts. If you think running would be your thing, why not join a parkrun? These are free timed 5km events every Saturday for people of all ages and all abilities. It can be a good motivation to get you out and there is a supportive spirit no matter your speed.

Don’t be fooled by the ads you see about how this is time to discover the new you. Be happy with the old you. You don’t need an update. Ignore the diet talk and the resolutions made that set people up for failure. Make a realistic resolution if you want to and if you want to you can boycott the entire idea like I do. No matter your decision have a happy and healthy new year!

This article was written by a SpunOut.ie volunteer. Check out our volunteering opportunities here and get in touch if you’re interested in getting involved.

For many, especially those who have had a rough year, the thought of entering a new year filled with uncertainty can be quite unnerving. To help with any nerves, here are some practical things I do at the end of every year to get me in the right mindset to make the most out of the year ahead.

1. Show gratitude for the year gone by

The first, and one of the most effective tips, is to express gratitude for what you already have. No matter how you would rate this past year, there is always something to be thankful for. If you are struggling to think of positive things that have happened this year, start off small or just general more obvious things you can be thankful for. Are you in good health? Did you survive a year of college or work? Have you made fun memories with friends or family? Write a list out on paper and see how the more you reflect, the more things you realise there are to be thankful for. This gratitude will boost your mood and get you thinking about all the great things the new year could bring.

2. Think of what you have to look forward to

Although the future may seem uncertain, I’m sure there is something you have to look forward to, even if it seems small. Have you any concerts or holidays lined up? Or maybe it's something small like your favorite show coming out with a new season. Write these things down to look back on when you feel discouraged and think of all the great possibilities that lie ahead. Thinking of the good things already planned and all the good that could happen will get you excited and optimistic about what could be in store.

3. Make a Vision Board

This tip requires you to get a little creative. Think of what you want to achieve or what you want this new year to bring. Do you want to improve your fitness, get good grades or finally take trip to that place you’ve always talked about visiting? Look online for images or quotes that will inspire you and motivate you to make them happen. Make them into a collage and hang it somewhere you will see every day to empower and remind yourself that you can achieve them. If it’s easier you could make an album of photos on your phone or choose an image to make as your wallpaper.

4. Make realistic goals and resolutions

Although you may feel enthusiastic about your resolutions and goals for the year, the idea of carrying out your ambitions can be quite daunting. One way I like to tackle this is to break them down into smaller, more achievable goals. By breaking broader goals into monthly, weekly and daily plans, they begin to seem a lot more achievable. I’ll use the example of getting fit to show what I mean. So for example, stating that you simply want to get fit is a vague goal because it's hard to define, so decide on a clear end point. Want to be able to be able to run 10k ? Or look and feel your best for that event at the end of the year? After making your resolution more specific break this goal into monthly, weekly and daily actions you can take. For example, you can challenge yourself to join a fitness class every month, break it down further by dedicating to meal planning at the start of every week and even smaller goals like drinking the right amount of water every day. By breaking these goals into more maintainable actions, you are more likely to stay motivated and hopeful about achieving them.

5. Make a change

A new year means a fresh start. It’s time to stop focusing on what may have gone wrong this past year and focus on making the most of this new year. You don’t need to make a drastic change, it can be as simple as getting a haircut or reorganizing your room. Even something as small as having fresh bedsheets is a great tool to get your head in the right state of mind, to forget about to past and start getting excited for what’s planned ahead.

So although nobody knows what the new year will bring, what you can control is your outlook and perspective on how you handle the highs and lows of the upcoming year. Although these tips mainly focuses on the beginning and end of the calendar year, you can try them out at any point to give yourself a boost of motivation and live your best life.

This article was written by a SpunOut.ie volunteer. Check out our volunteering opportunities here and get in touch if you’re interested in getting involved.

Speedpak are currently offering a full-time traineeship beginning in mid-January 2019. This traineeship is being offered in Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Customer Service Logistics, and is run by Colaiste Dhulaigh College of Further Education in partnership with Speedpak CLG and local industry partners.

What is Speedpak?

Speedpak is an e-commerce company who are responsible for packing, displaying and merchandising products. They routinely solve problems for customers from a variety of industries. Speedpak are involved in all elements of packing, re-packing, assembling and the dispatching of products for these different companies. They specialise in a range of products which are dispatched to everything from cosmetic companies to pharmacies, and take care of all products that a specific company requires. They are the final contact with valuable goods before they are sent to their final destination.

What is a Speedpak Traineeship?  

This traineeship is an opportunity for those who want a ‘stepping stone’ into employment. The traineeship will require 30 hours per week, and these hours will be delivered mainly at the Speedpak premises in Clonshaugh Business and Technology Park, located in Dublin 17.

You will also be required to spend an 8-week work placement with Speedpak, or one of their local industry partners. The current options for traineeship placements in other industries are:

The January 2019 Traineeship may include these and other organisations, and the working week for work placement will range from 30 to 40 hours a week.

Am I eligible for this traineeship?

This traineeship is being offered to everyone who is interested. You can apply even if you are receiving a social welfare payment. Early school leavers are welcome, as well as those who are looking to return to employment after a long absence.

What skills and qualifications will I gain from a Speedpak Traineeship?

With the traineeship successfully completed, you will have an advantage in the manufacturing, distribution and retail logistics job markets. You will develop valuable skills, important work placement experience and receive a nationally-recognised Traineeship qualification.

After training, you will receive a qualification/certificate/licence in:

How much is a Speedpak Traineeship?

The traineeship is free of charge.

How do I apply for a Speedpak Traineeship?

There will be an information session about the traineeship run on Monday, the 17th December at 3pm in the Training Centre, and a second information session in January. Those interested are asked to contact Speedpak in advance to book a place at the information sessions.

At these information sessions, you will be invited for coffee and chats to answer any questions you might have about the traineeship. Then you will be able to arrange an interview, which will happen in early January. You can also apply for an interview directly online here.

Further information

For further information on the traineeship, about an application, or to book a place on the information sessions, there are a number of ways for you to contact the company.

You can click here to visit the traineeship section of their website. Here you will find additional information and be able to see updates about the traineeship.

You can call 01 867 1707.

You can also email [email protected]. 

Great minds do not think alike

When I googled the term “intelligence” I found quite contrasting results. On one hand, it was defined as the capacity for logic, self-awareness, creativity, emotional knowledge, and problem solving. On the other hand, it described intelligence as acute, brainy, and someone who understands difficult subjects while gaining and using knowledge.

After reading the first definition I found myself nodding silently while thinking, great- I’ve definitely been called creative before, I understand my (even sometimes irrational) emotions, and ya, there’s nothing like getting the countdown conundrum just before Rachel Riley does, therefore I must be intelligent. But after reading the second definition, suddenly my school days came flooding back to me and that feeling of being not quite good enough kicked in.

You see, although I was called “creative”, “musical”, and “self-aware”, words like “astute”, “brainy” and “mathsy” were always that bit far out of my reach. Did this mean I wasn’t intelligent? It sure felt like it in school. It was only when I was in college that I discovered my true intelligence. Suddenly I was getting A’s in every subject and at first, I thought I must have been picking up the wrong transcripts, but much to my surprise, after 4 years of the same results I finally came to the realisation that, no I hadn’t grown a brain overnight but in actual fact my type of brain had finally been tapped into. For the first time in my academic life I felt worthy.

My degree was in marketing which meant brainstorming campaign ideas, coming up with witty slogans, and even learning what drives us. I was 21 and I finally found my intelligence. Other 21-year olds were out there searching for the person they had shifted the night before in the club and here I was, finding a part of me I never knew existed or at least until now was allowed to exist. But at least I found it after 21 years, it made me wonder what happens to those who are constantly searching for theirs or worse, who never find it? Einstein epitomises my thoughts perfectly as he says: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid”.

Mind blown

The leaving cert caters for a very select niche of students who are skilled at mathematics, linguistics, and have the ability to memorise. Even higher level Maths receives more points. But what if you weren’t left brained, what if you were more right brained. And by right brained I mean intuitive, creative, and imaginative? And what if, despite playing two recorders in your mouth at once for your musical practical you STILL aren’t awarded extra points? What an actual travesty. You see, although playing two recorders at the same time and Pythagoras’ theorem may have nothing in common, they do however, require a certain skill set. And unless you are aware of your particular skill set it’s quite possible you will never reach your true potential. Did you know some academics believe there are actually nine types of intelligences? These are categorised as: Naturalistic, Musical, logical-mathematical, existential, interpersonal, bodily-kinesthetics, linguistic, intra-personal and spatial.

“Very advanced”

I used to work in an art shop and to say I met every “advanced” child in the county would be an understatement. It was like clockwork. Every interaction I had with any adult would go something like this, “I’m looking for a puzzle for a 3-year-old, he’s 36 months and 3 days old to be exact.” I would smile and usher them in the general direction of puzzles for age 3 plus. Within  seconds I would hear those famous words, “Oh no no, you don’t understand, he’s VERY advanced. We would like the 5-6yr puzzle please”. After providing every advanced child in Limerick with puzzles to keep them going until they were at least 5 years old, this one particular interaction I had was more memorable than any of the others. One morning while working, a country man approached me and asked had I “any pikturs or puzzles for the ung fella”. I smiled, how old is he? “He’s 3.” I ushered him to the aisle and he started laughing and said “Era no, he’s a bit shlow, have ya anything simpler?” Thank God, a mediocre child existed in the county. And when I did meet this so-called “slow” little boy, he was beautiful. In fact he was so perfectly normal. He was playing with the plastic animals on the ground and informing me of each and every species. “Did you know that Ostriches have 3 stomachs?” Now who’s shlow!

Don(t) Giovanni

“Hot housing” refers to parents trying to create super babies since birth. These are the babies who have been exposed to flashcards before they can talk, to gymnastics before they can crawl, all having bopped to Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” in the womb. The “tiger approach” is a strict, and demanding parenting style in order to increase high levels of achievement. But each hour spent in a room playing the violin until their little fingers bleed is another hour spent without human contact. 1 hour seems like nothing in the grand scheme of things but an amalgamation of “just one more hour” over 20 years results in a complete lack of both social and emotional intelligence.

Einstein(er)

Can we find a balance? One school that is trying to answer this question is Steiner education which focuses on a more holistic approach as opposed to solely academic. The child’s artistic, emotional, and practical needs are also taken into account which provides them with better resilience, a better understanding of emotions and if anything, confidence.

Isn’t that what you would want for your child? If schools took time to understand the different types of intelligences and how to foster them, we would all be striving and more importantly, feeling good enough. Life is hard enough, you don’t want to go through it feeling lost. Now you don’t have to as there’s millions of tests online that will thoroughly analyse your personality and provide you with guidelines and career prospects. You don’t need 21 years. For anyone reading this – you got this far in the piece – at least you know you can read well!

This article was written by a SpunOut.ie volunteer. Check out our volunteering opportunities here and get in touch if you’re interested in getting involved.

The LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy has launched a nationwide competition for all ages up to 24 to design a sticker that will promote support for the LGBTI+ community and help LGBTI+ people feel welcome and included. The sticker will be offered to clubs, projects, businesses and organisations around the country who can display the stickers to show that they are an LGBTI+ inclusive zone.

What is the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy?

The LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy was Launch in 2018 by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and aims to ensure that all LGBTI+ young people are visible, valued and included in Ireland.

The three main goals of the strategy are to:

To read more about the LGBTI+ Youth Strategy click here.

The LGBTI+ Welcome Sticker Competiton 

The winner of the LGBTI+ Welcome Sticker Competition will have displayed the values of the LGBTI+ Youth Strategy into their design to create a sticker that promotes the inclusion of the LGBTI+ community. As the prize they will receive a €400 One4All voucher as well as having their sticker designed and distributed. 

How can I enter the LGBTI+ Welcome Sticker Competition?

If you would like to enter the competition complete an application form here and enter it along with your sticker design to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs before the 14th of January 2019.

You can send your completed application by email to [email protected] in high resolution pdf or jpeg, or post it to the following address:
LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy Team
Department of Children and Youth Affairs
Block 1- Floor 2
Miesian Plaza
50-58 Baggot Street Lower
Dublin 2, D02XW14
FREEPOST F5055

You can read the full terms and consitions of the Welcome Sticker Competiton here.

Remember, all applications must be submitted by Monday the 14th of January 2019.

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