It’s very easy to get caught amongst the wrong bunch of people, so many people speak of meaning well but their behaviour says differently. It’s important to spot the bad people in your life in order to recognise the good ones. So I’ve discussed some key signs to look out for when it comes to the not so good people around you.

They are passive aggressive

A person with a constant passive aggressive attitude will avoid being straight forward with you at all costs. If they are upset or angry with you they will ‘pass’ indirect (almost subtle) insults or comments and perhaps give you the silent treatment to let you know they have a problem. I personally find this kind of behaviour to be very frustrating and hurtful, it can make you constantly wonder what you’re doing wrong while also leaving you questioning whether or not you have a way about you that upsets people, bringing you down even more. Yet truth be told the person who is being passive aggressive is doing something wrong. They are avoiding confronting an issue, which will not solve anything. If you know anyone in your life like this, I would recommend not giving them your attention, the mind games are not fun so don’t satisfy the person by playing along. Instead I suggest focus on the people in your life, who are honest towards you, who try to fix the cracks that occur in your relationships and who do their best to avoid arguments with you. These kind of people are worth keeping around, simply because they mean well.

They appear unsupportive

Growing up I had a few ‘friends’ who never seemed to be happy for me when I was happy. It ranged from if I was pleased that I did well on a school test, they would mutter “well done” without a smile and complain about how pointless the test was anyway, to if I wanted to lose a bit of weight or take part in a new sport they would try to say something to put me off the idea. I soon realized these kind of people were not good for me! If someone in your life tries to hinder your goals and does not seem happy for all your minor and major achievements, forget’em! Take notice of the people who sincerely congratulate you when you succeed, who smile and say “yeah go for it” when you want to conquer a goal or try something new. It’s best to surround yourself with people who have got your back every step of the way!

You feel uncomfortable around them

If you find yourself sitting on edge about what you say or do around certain people, convinced that there is a high chance they’ll laugh at you or judge you, chances are they’re bad for you. You should not feel like you have to act a certain way or say particular things in order to ‘fit in’ with a group or a person. Don’t alter who you are to suit someone else, especially when your gut is telling you something is not right. Walk away from crowds or a person that make you feel small. Stick with people who make you feel safe and content. It may sound cliché, but the right people will love and accept you for who you are and that’s something I’m proud I’ve learned.

They don’t listen to you

One of the nicest things you can do for a person is listen to what they have to say. A key sign to look out for when it comes to a person who may be bad for you is they will steer clear of listening to you in most conversations. They often want the conversation to revolve around them or something they’re interested in. If I’m caught in a situation like this I wouldn’t continue to try and tell them anything. In my opinion these are clear signs that a person is not concerned with what you have to say. It is much better to talk to someone who is willing to listen and offer you advice if you need it.

They don’t make an effort

A person who is not good for you will normally leave you feeling that you must repeatedly make the first move in order to “keep them” basically. This can mean you usually check up on them to see if they’re okay, but they don’t do the same for you and that you’re always the one who makes plans in order for you both to see each other. Effort should come from both/all people in either a friendship or a relationship. It’s unhealthy when maintaining the bond feels like you’re dragging your nails down a chalkboard. If a person really cares about you, their actions will prove that. Be caring and loyal to the people who are happy to have you in their lives, and don’t forget to remind them that you’re thankful to have them in yours too!

In life we’ll encounter many different kinds of characters. If I had to offer one main piece of advice, it is to never be afraid to remove a bad person from your life but to never be afraid to let a good one in either.

A common question I get asked as the school year nears an end is "any plans for the summer?" When I tell them I am going to Italy as an au pair I leave many people baffled. Most Irish people seem to have a preconceived notion that au pairs only come to Ireland. Thankfully Irish au pairs are actually in high demand and I am lucky enough to have found a great host family for the summer.

I was pessimistic going into the application process. I thought it would be long, tedious and end with me not finding a host family. How wrong was I! I made an account, added a few photos of myself and I was away. I was surprised how easy the Au Pair World website was to use. I had never heard of anyone in my area becoming an au pair so it was all new to me and the website could not have been more informative for a first time user.

The vast number of profiles was somewhat overwhelming. After scrolling and scrolling, profiles seemed to all blend into one. I applied to countless families (and had a few families apply to me!). The task of narrowing down potential families seemed daunting. In the end, I arranged Skype interviews with three families. As an introvert the Skype calls where something that I contemplated on from the moment I agreed to them. Thankfully I hit it off with two of the families, which left me to choose one.

The decision was tough but in the end I went with the Italian family in the hope that I can improve my spaghetti eating skills and also see parts of this beautiful country. I recently got a chance to speak to this family’s last au pair. She said the family was great but to beware of rabbit at the dinner table! Since we have formalized the agreement with a contract we have been in near constant contact.

My introverted side still comes out at the mention of a Skype call (but I have managed two more). My host family is very helpful and they are trying their best to make me feel like part of their family before I even arrive.

At 17 this will be my first lone trip away from home. Traveling alone, minding two young boys and communicating with an Italian grandmother that speaks no English will all be challenges. However I am looking forward to getting to know as much as I can about the Italian culture and of course the sun is a plus. The only thing that may catch me off guard is the hiking that my host family does every Sunday.

I hope that my Gaelic football background gives me something to work with, but I think the heat may mean that the 8 year old and 10 year old will fly up the mountains ahead of me. All I can hope for in that situation is to get a nice tan. I think that if anybody wants to experience a new culture and a different way of living that they should definitely consider becoming an au pair. The process is so simple and there seems to be a family to suit everyone. I am enjoying the experience and I haven’t even reached Italy yet!

At only age 19 I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and more recently an Anxiety Disorder. For me, this came out of nowhere. I had a normal childhood. Although I was very shy and insecure. At age 15 or 16 I had my first introduction to self-harm. Not knowing it back then, I was so unaware.

I was on holidays with my brother, my first time away without my parents. It was ok, but I felt lonely. One day my brother went off on a day trip, I begged to stay at the hotel. I don’t know why but I just didn’t want to be in public.

After that, again, I was pretty normal. I finished school, went to college, loved my studies. Until early 2014, when I was suddenly ‘hit’ by my demons. All of a sudden I was ‘sad’. I felt alone, unhappy, hurt – all of a sudden my world was torn apart.

Thankfully, I didn’t let this go on for too long. I had the knowledge at this stage to know something was wrong. I approached my mother, who I trusted with my life, explaining I felt ‘different’. I went to my GP, and was diagnosed with a “Major Depressive Disorder” and set up on medication and counselling.

At the time, this was the best step for me. The balance of these helped me a great deal to manage the bad moods on a day-to-day basis.

After a few months of things going ok, I finished college and convinced myself I was ‘cured’. I decided to jet off to Portugal and work a summer abroad with my partner and friends. I thought this would be a great way to ‘get my mind off my troubles’. This was a foolish decision. I had convinced myself I was better. But bad habits followed me. Alcohol became my medicine, smoking became my stress release.

After 3 months me and my partner returned home. I got strict with myself, aimed to get better. I returned to counselling, altered my medication and got a job. With job after job, for 2 years, I could never truly be “happy”.I gained many skills through reading books and attending counselling.

I stopped self-harming, thanks to tattoos.This sounds strange, but the pain of tattoos helped me get over the urge to hurt myself. It gave me confidence, made my scars beautiful, it was my safe place.

Over 2 years on and it brings us to now. I made the decision a few weeks back to leave work. I wasn’t in the mental stability to balance a job as well as taking care of my mental health. I took a break before I broke. This has honestly been the best decision I ever made – that’s not to say all people struggling with their mental health should leave work, this is just my journey.

I got back into my passions for music and writing. I spent all my spare time writing and making music. I am finally on the road to happiness. This isn’t to say I am “cured”.

The mind is a tricky place, but with the right tools, it can over come the dark times. We as a nation need to join together and stop the stigma around Mental Health in this country.

Reach out to people, help your loved ones, care for one another. In every dark night, there is a bright light.

I will stand up and admit that I used to be a toxic person. I was surrounded by toxicity for so long, I unknowingly adopted the techniques, thinking they were normal. This doesn't mean that I was a bad person, but a person with bad experiences and bad behaviours. To stop hurting the people you care about, it's important to recognise toxic behaviours, so you can stop them.

1. Being passive agressive

"Fine, whatever." "K." You don't express your feelings, but you say things that you know will make the other uncomfortable, or feel guilty.
You 'keep score' with someone. If someone is annoyed at you, you reflect it with, "Well, at least I didn't do (insert grudge here)".

2. Never apologising

A toxic person often feels like a wounded animal. They do everything they can, and feel wrongly attacked if someone questions their actions. It's easy to forget that other people have feelings too, and even if trying your best, you are not perfect and are going to do something wrong. The word sorry may never leave your lips, which will leave a nasty atmosphere.

3. Blaming something else for your behaviours

I will never forget the day I did this, because I was disgusted with myself. I was with my boyfriend, and I was in a crowded shopping centre and was very anxious. I ended up snapping at him, and afterwards blaming it entirely on my anxiety. While yes, anxiety did play a big factor in why I lashed out, I learned that I needed to take responsibility of my actions, and stop anxious behaviours that hurt people I love.

This is only the tip of a big iceberg, but how can you rectify toxic behaviours?

Communication is key. Don't hold grudges, keep score and pent up anger. If someone has upset you, tell them. It'll be out in the open, and the air can be cleared, rather than months or years of hostility being present.

Think before you speak / re-read messages. Look at that message, and think how it'd make you feel. Squirmy? Guilty? Anxious? Change it. Again, if something is bothering you, tell someone, rather than trying to make them feel bad.

Apologise It's what it says on the tin. Acknowledge that you're not, or ever will be perfect, like everyone else in this world. If you've done something wrong, you're not being attacked when someone confronts you with your behaviours. Take a breath, and apologise. 

Toxicity takes time to fix, but it can be done. Be gentle with yourself, know that you're not an evil person, and mend your relationships.

I could write pages about anxiety and how it affects me but we would be here forever. Anxiety is a disorder and is more common than you would think. It manifests itself differently, i.e. to different strengths and with different effects, in each sufferer. For me, it makes many things so much more difficult.

I read something today on social media in a post entitled something like “Things people with anxiety love to hear”, and all of them were so accurate and I realised that I wasn’t alone in how I felt. One of the things that stuck out to me the most was the idea that an anxious person may say they will do something, or go somewhere, with the full intention of doing it but end up bailing at the last minute on many occasions. I do that, a lot.

It’s not that I don’t want to go, it’s the fact that the idea of going out, going outside of my comfort zone, is so overwhelming that I would prefer to hide away in the safety of my own home. This resulted in me leaving secondary school with no friends, because my friends thought I just didn’t want to go out with them, and I was too afraid to admit the truth. I was sick.

I’m in my second year of college now and I’m doing quite well, because I decided when I went to college that any friends I made were going to be told, up front that this is how I am. To my pleasant surprise, nine times out of ten, people are understanding.

As I stated, anxiety manifests itself in different ways for everyone so I cannot speak for anyone else when I say that anxiety is a big factor in everyday life, but it doesn’t define me. I am not anxious 24/7, jumping at any little thing that pops out at me.

I get anxious when overwhelmed with an enormous amount of things, resulting in a total meltdown. I get anxious when I’m not in control, when life seems to be running away on me. People with anxiety are just like anyone else, but just have different tolerances and different reactions to things.

In the past few years, I found strength in the campaigns run by Bressie(Niall Breslin). The reason I believe he has helped me so much is that he appears like just another person. He’s not Bressie from the tv, or from the band, he’s Bressie from Mullingar and he has problems just like we do.  He is honest, and promotes honesty. People who are suffering internally need to talk, and he encourages that because he makes it such a normal thing. He encourages us to fight, and he even shows us how to. We need more people like Bressie, and we need more people to listen to Bressie!

Before this starts sounding like a plug for Bressie, I’ll end it with the most important message I feel I have. If you are suffering, even in the slightest, talk to someone. Even start with your pet! The first step towards making progress is to voice how you’re feeling, and if that’s sitting in your room with your pet, it’s a start.

I talk to my dog all the time, because she always listens and she’s never going to judge. The reality is, most people are like my dog, they will listen and they won’t judge you. They may even be feeling the same. I’ve gotten to the stage now where I can tell people all about my anxiety and depression without even flinching because I have realised that it is nothing to be ashamed of. 

I can do that now, because I started by telling someone. You can’t do it alone, and people will help. Whether it is your dog, cat, parent, friend or someone on the internet, voice your feelings and I promise you, you’ll be making incredible progress in no time.  

As we all know, the ever-growing refugee problem is something that is still very much, a grey area for all of those trying to find a solution, which will benefit the majority.

I have been lucky enough to have already visited the EU Parliament in Strasbourg myself, approximately 2 months ago, with a group of 23 other students from my school, St.Columb’s College, to take part in a Euroscola Day, where 600 students across  the 28 different EU member states, came together to discuss the future of Europe. During the discussion, I was lucky enough to be able to ask my question to a Parliament representative. The question was:

How are the EU ensuring that the wellbeing of refugees are taken into account? Therefore, perfect for this article.

 

Syria’s civil war is the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. Half the country’s pre-war population-more than 11 million people- have been killed or forced to flee their homes. The majority have gone to Turkey and Greece, yet more and more are entering into EU countries. But one fact is simple: millions more of Syrians need our help. According to the U.N., it will take £5 billion to meet the urgent needs of the most vulnerable Syrians in 2016.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said that the UK will accept up to 20,000 refugees from Syria, over the next five years. Yet, in comparison to Germany, this number is relatively small. In December 2015, Germany already had an estimated 484,000 refugees who had arrived there since the Syrian conflict broke out in 2011, while Macedonia had approximately 400,000 and Serbia 315,000, respectively. In contrast, France only had 10,500 and the UK had 8,750. The most shocking thing is the fact that these so-called ‘World powerhouses’, ranked 5th and 6th respectively in the charts, with Germany 4th, are taking in less refugees, (with all respect to Serbia and Macedonia) than less powerful European countries. The EU Parliament should be implementing that the larger countries take more responsibility, in order to ensure that the smaller countries do not become overwhelmed, thus putting extra pressure on their limited resources, and ultimately, leading to the collapse of their economies.

There has been a real influx of asylum-seekers coming to the EU since 2008, with record highs being recorded in the past few months. One of the biggest problems is the fact that many smugglers are allowing these refugees to enter into the EU illegally, in order to make money. Therefore, the EU and its Member States are struggling to find durable solutions. Indeed the EU policy on asylum and irregular immigration has moved a long way from originally autonomous national policies. The European Commission has already brought enforcement action against 23 member states over their failure to respect the standards of the EU common asylum system, including Hungary, which responded to large numbers of arrivals by erecting fences and detaining and criminalizing asylum seekers crossing its border without permission.

On Wednesday 16th March, the EU Parliament declared that they came up with a plan to “fix” the refugee crisis, just in time for a crucial EU summit on migration on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th March.  A Parliament official said that the report was produced in order to present the assembly’s position on the migration crisis, before that meeting of EU leaders on the Thursday and Friday in Brussels, where a proposed deal with Turkey was proposed, to stem the flow of refugees into the EU. The deal would require Turkey to take back migrants who reach the EU illegally in return for a €6 billion payment, as well as a commitment to lift visa restrictions on Turks travelling to Europe and accelerate talks on Turkey’s EU accession. Though migration issues have mainly been in the hands of EU governments, the European Parliament will play a role on future legislative changes, affecting for example the EU’s asylum policy. The deal has been in force since 20th March, despite scepticism from international humanitarian organisations and the UN itself. Only time will tell if it will be beneficial to the people of the EU.

Reflecting on events until this point, I believe that things will unfortunately get worse before they get better- On a side note, my condolences go out to those involved in the recent tragedy in Belgium, and my thoughts and prayers are with them, their families and friends at this incredibly difficult time- However, I do believe that eventually, the “refugee crisis” will no longer be branded by that name, rather, the refugees will just be accepted into society, and this whole series of terrible treatment towards the refugees will be forgotten about.

What is ‘accession’?

Accession is the term used to describe the process of a country ‘acceding’ to or becoming a member of the European Union. Enlargement refers to the expansion of the EU when new countries become members of the Union. Ireland joined the then EC (European Communities) in 1973. There are currently five official candidate countries for EU accession; Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey.

What are the eligibility criteria for accession?

Firstly, an applicant country must be in the geographical European area and must also subscribe to the values of the European Union, as described by Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union (TEU). These values are generally those of liberal democracy; respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law, as well as respect for human rights. These include minority rights, the right to non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between men and women.

Secondly, an applicant country must fulfil the ‘Copenhagen criteria’, which are;

Thirdly, an applicant country must also adopt and implement the acquis communautaire, i.e. the body of EU law, through appropriate administrative and judicial structures.

Fourthly, the integration of a new member state must be economically and politically viable from an EU perspective.

What is the accession process?

Becoming an EU applicant country

If a country fulfils the criteria contained in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union (regarding the broad values of the EU), it lodges a formal application with the Council of the EU (usually known as ‘the Council’, comprised of national ministers from EU member states).

The European Commission evaluates the applicant country and submits its opinion of the application to the Council. Bearing in mind the opinion submitted by the Commission, the Council then considers the application, potentially setting particular conditions that must be met by the applicant country before negotiations can begin. If such conditions are met by the country, accession negotiations begin with a ‘screening’ process, in which the Commission assesses the country’s compliance with existing EU law. The acquis consists of 35 chapters relating to different areas of EU law, ranging from policies on the Free Movement of Goods, to Agriculture, to Intellectual Property Law.

Candidate states benefit from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), which is a fund directed to candidate countries to provide financial and technical assistance to achieve the necessary political and economic reforms to comply with the acquis of the EU. The current IPA budget for 2014-2020, aiding the five candidate states, amounts to 11.7 billion euro.

The Commission releases a report detailing the incompatibility of the current applicant’s practices, or highlights areas that require change or improvements before the country can be considered to be complying with the acquis. The aim of these reports is to provide applicants with a roadmap to comply with the terms of EU membership. Both the Commission and the applicant country draft and release annual reports to monitor and report upon the progress of the country. Each chapter must be ‘closed’ before an accession agreement is reached.

Becoming an accession candidate

The accession agreement reached during negotiations is then set out in an accession treaty. This treaty must receive the unanimous support of the Council and the consent of the European Parliament before it can proceed to accession stage. The treaty is passed to existing member states of the EU and to the applicant country for ratification, the process of which can vary from country to country depending on individual constitutional rules. In Ireland, accession treaties are voted upon in the Dáil and the Seanad, and granted presidential assent with the approval of both. The implication of individual member state ratification is that a member state has the power to block a country’s accession to the EU – for example, in 2012, Slovenia refused to ratify the Croatian accession treaty until a compromise deal was reached on how to handle the debt of the bankrupted Slovenian bank, Ljubljankska Banka, to its Croatian customers. Once a deal was reached between the Slovenian and Croatian governments on this matter, the Slovenian government agreed to ratify the treaty. Austria intends to hold a referendum on a Turkish accession treaty, if or when the time comes.

Becoming a member state

Once all member states have signed and ratified the accession treaty, the acceding country becomes a member state of the EU on the date specified in the treaty.

Enlargement from a member state prospective: for and against

Economically

Enlargement is supposed to be a mutually beneficial process for both the European Union and its new member states. When a new country accedes to the EU, current member states have free access to an expanded Single Market, providing new trade and investment opportunities. Acceding states can expect significant domestic economic growth, as was the case with the ten states that joined the EU in 2004, because of the prospect of new foreign direct investment, the decentralisation of economies (pertaining to the acquis), resulting in greater financial market and macroeconomic stability. New member states also become beneficiaries of the EU budget, allowing for structural and regional development, which further facilitates national economic growth.

The obvious fear of existing member states is that enlargement requires a dilution of the EU budget to support new members, resulting in a decrease of the aid available to poorer member states. The free movement of labour in the EU also raises fears of mass migration of workers from new member states to older Western member states, resulting in economic strains in existing member states. After the 2004 enlargement of the EU, Ireland, Sweden and the UK were the only countries to immediately open the labour market to migrant workers from newly acceded states, while other member states imposed 7-year immigration restrictions. The upside of an ‘enlarged’ free movement of labour is access to a more diverse European labour market, which in economic terms, can help to offset the impact of ageing populations and slow the growth of the population of working age.

Do schools prioritise grades over mental health? On one hand, I would say no. When I was suffering badly with depression and anxiety, I was helped greatly by my teachers.

On the other hand, I would say yes, of course. For example, I had my mocks a few weeks ago. It's a known fact that the mocks are marked unnecessarily hard, in order to frighten people into studying. This doesn't take into account the people with frail mental health, like myself. My mock results hit me like a tidal wave, and it made me feel like giving up. I stayed in bed most of the time for days. Granted, now I feel motivated to study again, but was that mental struggle worth it? Doesn't it have the capacity to be even more damaging for someone else?

School is something we're told to be grateful for. We have access to an education when millions of other kids don't. So why is this miracle like a hell? I know multiple people who've had severe mental breakdowns regarding school, including myself. I know people who've dropped out if school because they simply can't cope with it anymore. For something that is supposed to be so beautiful, why does it cause such harm to our youth?

All this being said, I am not against education. I think it opens up many pathways. But it doesn't open our minds, it shrinks us with fear. Education, at least in some countries, is just not dealt with in the right way.

So what can we do to change this?

While more and more people are starting to work remotely or from their own homes, for most, the daily commute is still a very necessary expense. Your daily commute could be costing you more than you realise but there are some simple ways of keeping this expense as minimal as possible to help you save some of your hard earned cash!

Carpool

Made famous in recent times by James Corden and his host of celebrity friends, the carpool can be a fun way of getting around! Because you’re splitting the cost of petrol and parking, carpooling can be a great money saver and you’re guaranteed some company on your daily commute. Make sure that you are clear about the payment arrangement when you agree to the carpooling service. Calculate the costs involved in the journey and decide how your passengers are going to pay (daily, weekly, monthly).

Look After Your Car

Keeping your car in tip top shape can provide big savings over time. While there may be some initial investments, things like ensuring that your tire pressure is correct or changing your oil will make sure that you are using your fuel in the most efficient way.

Plan Your Trip and Know the Traffic Patterns

Use an online mapping system like Google Maps to plan out the quickest and most efficient route and also take note of the petrol stations on your route and start logging the price of petrol to make sure that you are consistently getting the best deals. Another thing to consider is traffic patterns. The longer you sit in traffic, the more fuel you’re burning, so this is essentially wasted money. Take this into consideration when planning your commute and try to avoid heavily congested areas or plan to get on the road before the traffic builds up.

Park Wisely

Having to pay for parking means that you are paying for your commute even when your car isn’t moving. Super annoying right? Do some research into free parking in your area. It might mean that you’ll need to park a bit further away from work or college but the savings could potentially be huge.

Hop on your Bike

A great workout and a great way to get around – win win! If you don’t already have a bike, check out if your employer offers the ‘Cycle to Work Scheme’ which is a tax incentive scheme with the aim to encourage employees to cycle to and from work. Under the scheme, employers pay for bicycles and bicycle equipment for their employees and set up a pay back arrangement over a 12 month period. This could definitely be worth checking out as the scheme is quite common across workplaces in Ireland.

Walk

Put one leg in front of the other and repeat. Simples! If you are reasonably close to work, college or school, walking is the cheapest way to get around. It is also a great way to start and end your day and it allows you to clear your head and get some much needed fresh air and vitamin D. Just make sure that you equip yourself with a good quality brolly and some warm clothes. We do live in Ireland after all.

Taking Public Transport the Smart Way

Use public transport as much as you can. Not only are you saving a lot of money and reducing your carbon footprint by traveling en mass; it also gives you the opportunity to use your time to catch up on texts or emails, chill out or read a book, which you obviously can’t do if you’re driving.

If you plan on using public transport regularly, I can’t stress the importance of having a leap card. Leap card journeys are an average of 20% cheaper than cash single tickets and also offer a variety of other money saving initiatives such as fare capping which puts a cap on your weekly public transport spend after a certain threshold. It really is the smart way to use public transport.

Opening a bank account can be a daunting task. Where do you go? What do you need? What other features are associated with your account type. The choices can often be wide and at times confusing. Here are some tips for you to consider when opening an account for the first time.

Choosing a provider

There are a number of providers on the market, you have Allied Irish Bank (AIB), Bank of Ireland, KBC, Ulster Bank, Permanent TSB, and EBS (Owned by AIB). Some providers offer better services than others. Things that could persuade you to go with a provider are:

An example of something you should consider is that Bank of Ireland have the largest branch network, so perhaps it is easier for you to get to one of their branches at home or in college when lodging or withdrawing cash. However, AIB allow their customers to lodge and withdraw from Post Offices around the country, so that might suit you better. 

Other things to consider are the methods of banking, you may need to send rent money to a landlord or flat mate regularly, so online and mobile banking are key for you to access your cash quickly. Some banks have machines to lodge money and others require teller transactions.

Choosing an account that suits you

There are two regular types of accounts, a Current Account or a Savings Account.  To see the difference between the two, read our article here.

Each bank has a different way of operating their current and saving account options. The regular type of account is a current account, which is usually used for everyday type of transactions like wages, debit cards, and direct debits if you pay rent or phone bills for instance.

A savings account is often an added option to your current account. Here you can transfer some of your money to a savings account to gain more interest and restrict access to the money you are putting away for a rainy day.

There are different stages for your age group if you open an account also, be sure to check if you are eligible for any of the following, as each have reduced fees and perks for being a student or graduate.

AIB:

They provide good solutions for those on the go with handy phone and tablet apps, contactless debit cards, and a good option of travel insurance for young people too.

Student Account (2nd Level)

This current account is for students between the ages of 12 and 18 who are in part time or full time second level education in Ireland.
AIB will pay the Government Stamp Duty on AIB Debit Cards for AIB Student Accounts for second level students

Student Plus Account

Graduate Account

KBC Ireland

The newest bank on the high street, KBC used to only operate online, but now you have the chance to walk in and have that face to face interaction if you need it. However, as a new operator they only have a Student Account and regular Current Account at the moment. It is available to full-time third level students aged 17 or over attending an Irish third level institution in a course for more than 21 hours each week and the duration of the course must be at least one academic year. They also tend to throw in a few €s if you lodge a certain amount per month.

Student Account

Permanent TSB

If you’re a student over 18, Permanent TSB has the current account on offer.  There are a host of no fees on lodging, quarterly fees, direct debit fees or standing order fees.

It includes:

There is also a teen account for those under 18. See here.

Ulster Bank

Part of the Bank of Scotland group, Ulster Bank are likely the third biggest bank in Ireland.  Plenty of ATMs around the place and they have an envelope lodge drop facility in branches. You can also access some branches on Saturday mornings.

Adapt Account

Graduate Account

Bank of Ireland

With lodging machines in branches and a handy app, Bank of Ireland offer a good option too. Their Graduate Account is open one year more than AIB if that is of priority to you also.

Third Level

Graduate

Hidden bank charges 

Every account is due to pay Government levy/Stamp Duty and some transaction fees for using another bank’s ATM or general transactions. So keep an eye on the changing fees every year when the bank send these out to you. Some banks offer reduced or free fees on accounts.

For example, AIB Student Plus offers no account maintenance and transaction fees. Commission-free purchase and sale of foreign currency note. While KBC and AIB offer free contactless debit card payments.

Be sure to ask about overdrafts, some accounts have one and others do not. Make sure it is not activated if you don’t want to find a minus sign next to the number in your balance.

What do I need to open a bank account?

You need to supply documents to prove your identity and address, but it is important to know that you cannot use the same document to prove both your identity and address. Most will ask you to provide your passport, a utility bill, and a document from your college if you are a student.

You can prove your identity by producing one of the following:

*Also keep a copy of your completed form for your records.

How to complain about your bank if you have any problems

All personal customers of regulated financial institutions (banks or building societies) can make complaints to the Financial Services Ombudsman’s Bureau. People who have been offered services or have sought the provision of service from the financial institution can also make complaints to the Bureau.

A six-year limit applies to all cases so the Ombudsman will not investigate any case arising from events that happened over six years ago.

Services from the Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau are free. If you lose your case, you won't have to pay any charges to the Bureau or to the financial services provider against which you took your claim.

If you have a complaint about a financial service provider you are advised to take the following steps:

Mention the word exams to any person with an anxiety disorder, and our hearts rise to our throats whilst beating at an uncomfortably rapid pace.
It's not like the normal exam stress most people get, because us anxious folk find that level of nerves normal. I could try and put it in proportions for people who don't have an anxiety disorder, but I honestly think it's almost impossible to imagine if you haven't experienced it yourself.

Personally, I find exams extremely difficult. From class tests to state exams, they all cause that little ball of panic inside me to enlarge. So much so, I didn't do the Junior Cert, the first state exam you do in Ireland. Even though I didn't do any exams for a period of my life, the last two years have been a huge learning curve in how to deal with exams. Though these tips might not always be easy, as a person with Generalised Anxiety Disorder, I can at least vouch that they work for me.
 

1. Don't panic about panicking

I find that I get anxious over the thought that I will have a panic attack. Of course, telling a person with anxiety not to worry is like telling a leaf not to be green. It takes a lot of time to be able to step back from anxious thoughts, but if you are already able to separate your anxious thoughts from realistic ones, this is one anxious thought to discard.

2. Separate anxious thoughts from rational ones

If you are unable to do so, it's vital that you learn. It can take a long time, but it's necessary. Take an anxious thought before your exams. For example: I'm going to fail everything. In reality, that's absurd! You haven't sat in classes for years to know nothing. You haven't done homework for years for none of it to be in your brain. Don't believe everything anxiety tells you, because it's often not true.
 

3. Balance Your Study

Anxiety affects people's study patterns in polar opposite forms. For the majority of people, from what I can see, avoid the matter completely. I, on the other hand, have a tendency to over study. I worry so much that I don't know anything, I let my time and thoughts be consumed by it. What works for me is studying one subject at a time for about twenty minutes and then taking a break. I do this for about an hour, twice a day. This might not be ideal for you, but it's about not letting work overwhelm you with stress!
 

4. No charts

I cannot stress this enough. I took what, at the time, I believed was helpful advice. Make a chart, and put a dot on each day you do work. Brilliant, I thought. My competitive side would keep me motivated! I was so wrong. I became so obsessed with keeping the dots going that I pushed myself into fatigue many times. This caused me to miss school, and I didn't learn stuff properly. Again, I did it as fast as possible, just for those damn dots. I didn't take a day of work for nearly five months, which was both anxiety fueled and dangerous. Maybe someone without anxiety would cope better when not having a continuous stream of dots, but my anxiety definitely didn't let me.
 

5. Don't leave the exam

I was always given the option in school to leave if I was too anxious. Although this was with best intentions, it's the worst thing that any anxiety riddled person can do. If we leave, we are reinforcing to ourselves that the classroom and exam environment is dangerous. The next time we go in, our anxiety is ridiculously heightened as our fight and flight warnings are screaming at us to get out. The more you leave an anxious situation, the more frightened you will become. Then, your thoughts are scrambled and you won't do well in the exam.
 

6. Don't rush the exam

As much as your anxiety is screaming at you to write as fast as you can, take a step back from it all. Read the questions twice, and read any comprehensions thoroughly. Otherwise, you will make mistakes you will groan at when you see them.

With the mocks coming up, hopefully this will help! I just sat mine, and I'm proud to say that with these techniques, I didn't have a panic attack and did all my exams with my classmates.

The word community shone boldly in my CSPE book. Rights and respect for all people is a core theme of the Junior Cert subject. Outside of grandstanding ideals, however, what does the word really mean? And how can we in modern Ireland help to create and sustain positive communities?

In a general sense, we are all part of several communities. Whether old or young, migrant or emigrant, sports fanatic or arts enthusiast, we will all have shared experiences and aspects of our nature in common with others. It’s how much we invest in this sharing that makes the difference.

My experience

Over the past six weeks, I have come in contact with a variety of communities in different areas and created with different purposes in mind. I have volunteered for a mental health arts festival, helped run a local road race, taken an active interest in modern poetry and become part of Dublin’s chapter of the Online News Association.

Each of these movements bring people together in a physical sense: offline. They foster conversation, empathy, passion and activity. They have helped give purpose and motivation to people in a positive sense throughout the cold winter months.

Social media

Social media and online technologies help make the world a smaller place, bringing us closer to people from once-distant places and creating a shared recognition of cultures across the globe.

However, it seems to me they are best enjoyed in tandem with a vibrant life offline. If we were to abandon participation in pursuits and gatherings, after all, of what would we speak with our friends online?

As Naomi states in her article “Are you living a perfect life online?” , “we portray the aspects of our lives on social media that we want to be seen, but there’s a major flaw with that”. When we communicate from the safe position of behind our screen and keyboard, we can say what we like and so can others. Who’s to know what’s real?

When we engage and work with others in a ‘real world’ community, in contrast, our true emotions are more likely to come to the fore. We can go through exhausting evenings, triumphant weekends and defeat too. Our full spectrum of human experiences can be shared and our difficulties lessened.

Communities create change

Change can be created in practical and lasting ways through networks of people working together. Laughs along the way are a necessity! This year I was driven to explore my area in greater depth than I ever had previously.

By reaching out to like-minded people and rolling up my sleeves, I have already made new friends and helped in small ways to create change.

By volunteering with First Fortnight, a mental health arts festival, I have been an extra representative tackling mental health stigma through the facilitation of fascinating arts events.

Togetherness

By heading along to my first slam poetry competition, I have broadened my mind, acquired a new interest and already feel as though I have been warmly welcomed into a new community of sorts.

Though small and rural areas may seem quiet, they are often where community spirit thrives. Where there are people, there are opportunities. I took part in my first road race this year, having helped to facilitate the event which was a fundraiser for the building of a new community centre in my home village. A sense of togetherness made the day special.

Communities in the 21st Century

Societal changes have meant communities may be less likely to revolve around local churches, post offices or Garda stations into the future. Yet, the power of people coming together stays strong.

A strong modern community, for example, grew up around the campaign for marriage equality in the lead-up to last May’s referendum. People with a common interest in equality pounded pavements, shared stories, came home to vote and, ultimately, helped change Ireland.

Get Involved!

Whatever your passion or interest, there’s sure to be a movement or organisation out there for you. If not, why not start your own? From my experience, I would encourage everyone to get out, be empowered and bask in community spirit!

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