The CAO: You’ve Got To Be Yourself To Free Yourself

2015 was a year of a lot of worry, fear, and anxiety for me. That was when I was due to sit my Leaving Cert.

When the deadline loomed at the end of January, I became consumed by the CAO, by the horrible thought that I might make the wrong choice entirely, and indeed ultimately by the fear of failure. I was one of those people who didn’t have a dream career in mind when I was in school – so the idea of figuring out my life, and where it was all going, in such a short space of time didn’t agree with me at all.

Having a plan is a necessity for me, and I am usually good at preparation – but in this case I had to think fast.

As a result, I decided to do a business course at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire. "It opens up a lot of doors,” I was told, and that seemed like a comforting idea at the time.

In many ways, it has proved to be a positive choice. I can’t say that I find it riveting, but it's a good course to do if you’re still unsure about what career path is right for you – but simultaneously feel that going to college or university is an important stepping stone.

The beauty of it is that it is not an overly complicated course, and so it allows you a certain amount of 'me-time’, to grow as a newly independent adult. It gives you the opportunity and the space to actually go out into the world and find yourself – and maybe even discover your genuine interests (whatever they might be!). I was two years into my degree before I found my true calling, music. And what I have been learning about business is relevant to that.

I want to be honest here. Money doesn’t mean that much to me: I’d choose happiness over riches and misery any day.

If you’re anything like me at all, no matter what you choose to do, keep pursuing the holy grail of what makes you happy. Be kind, take the opportunity presented by college life to experience as much as possible, stay hopeful, work hard – and, most importantly, be yourself. You’ll get there eventually. After all, even if it takes time, most people do in the end...