Scholar Highlight – Aoibhin Dunne

Inform us about your self and what impressed your pursuit of the Laidlaw Girls in Management Trailblazers scholarship.
 

My title is Aoibhin Dunne and I’m nineteen years previous. I grew up in Clondalkin, a working-class space within the suburbs of Dublin, with my mum and my older sister. Though going into third-level schooling is just not a given for everybody in Clondalkin, I all the time had aspirations of attending faculty. I labored extraordinarily onerous to get my place in Trinity Faculty and I used to be additionally privileged sufficient to be aided by the HEAR scheme, which helps folks whose financial or social backgrounds are underrepresented in larger schooling.

I bear in mind sitting in Goldsmith Corridor on my first ever day there, because the lecturer went via the scholarships obtainable to college students on the HEAR scheme. The Laidlaw Girls in Enterprise [Leadership] scholarship actually resonated with me. I’ve had a ardour for enterprise since I used to be a teen, promoting arts and crafts in my entrance backyard and taking a selected curiosity in it in class. I additionally am passionate in regards to the illustration of girls within the subject. I bear in mind being in secondary faculty and studying that as of 2019, solely 7.4% of chairpersons in Eire have been feminine. Whereas this actually disenchanted me, it additionally fueled my ardour to make an impression on the world of enterprise in Eire.

The Laidlaw scholarship advocated for a similar issues I used to be keen about and gave me a platform to share my ideas with others. I admired that the scholarship actually believed in girls from my background and that is why I utilized.

What’s the greatest life problem you may have overcome and what did you be taught from it?

The most important problem I’ve needed to face is studying to hearken to my physique. I’ve all the time discovered being unoccupied to be an especially troublesome process, which was heightened throughout COVID-19 when there was so little to do. I discovered myself packing my day with duties and actions and even after I was idle I spent my time worrying about how I wasn’t being productive. I discovered after some time that this was actually counterproductive as I used to be always reaching burnout.

What I realized from that is that you will need to handle ourselves. Whereas being productive and attaining our objectives is one thing to try for, it’s inconceivable to do until we glance after our our bodies and minds.

What’s the most helpful/impactful piece of recommendation you may have been given in your life?

‘No rain, no flowers.’

It’s essential to do not forget that the finer issues in life can solely be skilled via hardship. In the identical approach, the flowers solely develop when the rain dampens the soil. This quote resonates with me a lot that I’ve it tattooed on my arm.

Conversely, what’s the WORST piece of recommendation you may have been given?

‘It’ll all be value it in the long run.’

Generally the vacation spot doesn’t make the journey worthwhile

What are your prime 3 ideas that can assist somebody turn into a greater chief?

1. Keep in mind to by no means cease studying
2. Encompass your self with folks you admire
3. Be your self!

Which specific leaders encourage you essentially the most and why?

As a substitute of 1 chief specifically, I  will say that I’m impressed by people who find themselves unapologetically themselves and individuals who present grace and empathy in direction of others.

Briefly describe a scene from the long run you’re striving to create.

I think about a world the place girls’s illustration within the subject of enterprise is the same as these of their male counterparts. A world the place this equality isn’t a aim that we have a good time however as a substitute one thing that’s the norm. I think about a world the place folks use their privileges and abilities to make the world a greater place for different folks, animals and the atmosphere. I think about a world the place I discover work that I’m keen about and work that may impression the lives of others.

What does it imply so that you can be a Laidlaw Scholar?

For me, being a Laidlaw scholar means every part. Laidlaw highlights the attributes which can be most underrepresented in third-level schooling. Laidlaw had allowed me to attach with different highly effective and resilient girls. Laidlaw has made faculty extra accessible for me, coming from a working-class background. Laidlaw has given me a spot to construct my profession in enterprise. Laidlaw has given me the arrogance to imagine in myself and my objectives.