J - Journeys

I don’t know any teenager who doesn’t have a list of journeys. Places they have to go before they get caught up in life and tied down to a house and a job. In that brief time between Secondary School and College, the world is their oyster, and they could go anywhere, be anyone.

If you have a serious conversation with any teenager, their journey will eventually come out. I don’t know anyone who has no interest in exploring the world beyond cold, wet Ireland. I count myself firmly within that majority, if not universal, group who need to see some of the world before it gets buried beneath boyfriends, girlfriends, spouses, children, houses and jobs.

I - Inspiration

We’re all inspired by something, someone. We all have an image of the perfect life, the way things would be in a perfect world. I’ve had a lot of inspiration in my life, from those around me and characters in books and I too, have an image of the perfect life for me.

H - History

History just makes sense to me, in the same way that Irish just, doesn’t. I’m hardwired to English and other languages just go right over my head because when I hear people speaking anything that isn’t English, my brain decides to dwell on other matters. If I could make it stop, I probably wouldn’t, because that might limit my brain space for English. I remember before the Junior Cert, when I sighed and circled Ardleibheal for the box with ‘Gaelige’ in it, my brain traitorously suggested that I swap my knowledge of English for the equivalent in Irish, which was one of its weaker moments.

G - Goals in Life

Though many of my ambitions were far from realistic, amid the wistful thinking there was always one thought, standing strong despite being buffeted by every word that made me feel worthless, every teacher who looked at me like I was stupid. The word ‘author’ has been swimming around in the sea of my thoughts for years now. It’s only gotten stronger since my teachers started praising me and I met people who love the craft like I do and love what I do with words.