Leaving Cert not the only path to university, says maths graduate

Megan Dooley, who left secondary school in fifth year without sitting her Leaving Certificate, is set to graduate with a degree in mathematical sciences from TU Dublin. Her journey highlights alternative educational routes for students who may not follow a traditional academic path.

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I was supposed to be the smart kid, but that hadn't panned out.

Dooley described her secondary school experience as filled with "panic and anxiety," leading to her decision to leave. "I was supposed to be the smart kid, but that hadn't panned out," she told RTÉ News. Despite leaving school, she always envisioned obtaining a university degree.

After leaving secondary school, Dooley enrolled in a QQI Level 4 General Learning course with her local Youthreach in County Louth. This program, designed for early school-leavers, prepared her for apprenticeships, Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) courses, and the workforce. It was here she rediscovered her passion for mathematics, a subject she had previously struggled with.

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I had always seen myself getting a university degree at some stage.

She then pursued an engineering PLC course, followed by a second PLC in early childhood education, working in that field for two years. However, mathematics remained a strong interest. Dooley eventually applied to study maths at university, achieving a goal she once thought unattainable.

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It was there that I fell in love with maths again, because I had been failing it in secondary school even though I'd always loved it.

Now nearing the completion of her degree, Dooley hopes her story will encourage students to explore various options. "It's important for them to know that the Leaving Cert really isn't the be all and end all," she stated, emphasizing that success can be achieved through different routes.

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I always had maths in the back of my mind, as much as I loved childcare.