Waterford Gaeltacht student wows judges with her project about becoming a paramedic

A Waterford teenager has brought pride to the county in the AIB Career Skills Competition with her project on how to become a paramedic.

Jasmine Ní Dhrocháin is a student at Meánscoil san Nioclás in Waterford’s Irish speaking Rinn Ó Cuanach, and has come second in the Irish category at this year’s AIB FutureSparks Career Skills Competition. The winners were announced on Wednesday morning, April 17.

To enter competition, a student had to be able to demonstrate their understanding of a chosen career, outline the educational pathways that lead to it and the most relevant knowledge requirements and the skills needed for it.

They then discussed their work experience placement and outlined the skills they observed and developed during their placement. They reflected on their work experience and indicated if and how their work experience has influenced their career and educational choices.

Jasmine was selected for her work on how to become a paramedic. “I’ve always wanted to work somewhere in the medical field, but I was never really sure,” she said. “The idea of working in a hospital all day didn’t really suit me very well.

“I liked the idea of a paramedic. They are always on the road, they’re in and out of the hospital and going around the place. It’s a little bit different but it’s still within the medical field.”

There are two different main pathways into a career in paramedics. One can attend a college course, or undergo an apprenticeship.

Too young to do either of those, Jasmine said it was also difficult to find relevant work experience in the field, so she started working in a health food shop to gain knowledge about natural ways of medicine.

It was this knowledge that she outlined in her project, and the enterprising teenager has now gone on to work in a pharmacy to expand her knowledge of prescription drugs as well.

The degree in Paramedic Science is one of the more popular routes into this profession, said Jasmine. “However, if you don’t get the points, or university is not for you, you can join through an apprenticeship. You can do multiple different courses and you can go out on the road, and be learning at the same time.”

Jasmine added that she would be excited and honoured to represent Meánscoil san Nioclás in Dublin at the awards night.

Organisers said they were overwhelmed by the number of outstanding submissions to the competition this year which made selecting the winners very challenging.

“To all of you who entered the competition, thanks so much and to those who made the shortlist, a huge congratulations as you fought off stiff competition,” said a spokesperson. “This year saw a very high standard of entries that led to long hours of deliberation from our panel of judges before agreeing on the worthy winners. A huge congratulations to all of those who have placed in this year’s competition.”

The award ceremony for the Career Skills Competition 2024 will take place on Wednesday, May 8 in The Clock Tower, Department of Education, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1.

The winning students, their parents, programme co-ordinators and school principals will be invited to attend the prize giving ceremony. Prizes include MacBook Air Laptops, Tablets, Bluetooth Speakers and cash prizes for some of the winning schools.

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