Small School, Huge Opportunity

Mary Immaculate College, though small in comparison to other universities across Ireland, could not have had a larger impact on my life. In fact, I can't believe that I'm supposed to simply choose one story to tell in this review that would illustrate my experience in a way that will do it justice. From beginning to end, the staff in the college went above and beyond all expectations I had throughout my attendance. The students were so welcoming, and I had no issues making friends; before I knew it, I was attending soccer and rugby games, watching hurley in the local pubs while enjoying pints with the lads. I was going to the club with groups of people and above all, I was enjoying everything that Ireland has to offer. Apart from my Irish friends, I really bonded with people from all across the world, from Brazil to Germany, France to Tanzania, and beyond. There were smiles shared among us all throughout our adventures. At the Cliffs of Moher I dangled my feet off of the edges with my fellow international students, admiring the view with them who will now be lifelong friends. On the Aran Islands we dug "International 2015" in the sands on the beach while posing like fools all the while laughing just for the sake of laughing, before continuing on a self guided bike tour of the island. Walking around Dublin, or Galway, or staring at the ruins of a Blarney castle, were all shared with smiles, selfies, and times of solidarity. Aside from the fun I've had, the school never served to damper my sense of adventure. In fact, school was an adventure. I branched out from my typical courses in Communication and Sociology, and pursued classes in theatre, history, and geography. My time spent in the geography classroom was definitely challenging, as I had no idea what was going on for the better part of the semester, but the professor welcomed me into his office week after week to explain everything we covered in ways that I could understand. Iw would often joke with him that he should charge me admission, because by the time I left, he would be a very rich man. I definitely grew the most in that class, as I really gained an understanding for the Irish landscape, the geo-political systems, and more. Finally, whenever I felt I had an issue, I could always turn to the ladies in the International Office for help, or even when I simply wanted to chat with someone. These ladies would simply drop whatever it was they were doing to listen and talk, or even grant a hug when I needed it. Instead of being employees at the college they quickly became my Irish mum and my Irish auntie, and I can honestly say that the biggest impact came from them. In all, I will never forget my experience here in Ireland, and this is in large part to the connections I've made and the memories I've gained. Thanks Mary I, for everything I got the opportunity to do. You'd better believe I will be returning to visit.