Over the course of my LiA, I was privileged enough to work in TAP at Trinity College Dublin. Trinity Access Programmes (TAP) works with students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access higher education. They achieve this through foundation courses, open days, campus tours, and various outreach programmes, including their summer school. My focus was on summer school. A week-long school in the summer, the programme allows for fifth year students from DEIS schools a taste of university life. The programme includes a week of studying, social sessions, and guidance conversations in order to prepare fifth year students for university. 

TAP kindly allowed me to run a pre and post-survey with the WP students, documenting their experiences and their improving confidence over the week. Widening participation in education means allowing more students from diverse backgrounds access to third-level. Students may be characterised by socioeconomic disadvantages, such as the area you live in, your parents employment status, your parents educational attainment, etcetera. 

Widening participation is close to my heart as a first-generation student from a low income background. To be able to participate in a summer school that allows students to articulate their experiences so eloquently, to allow them the opportunity to develop confidence in themselves and social situations, was both heartwarming and gut wrenching. There is a lot to learn from the next generation of WP students. I feel fortunate to have been offered the opportunity to not only conduct a study but also learn from these students. These students displayed levels of confidence, inclusion, compassion and leadership that most can only aspire to. 

Through observing and participating in the English module, I was able to watch as students developed and worked through their anxieties. Honest and open communication about their apprehensions regarding higher education allowed for confidence that they belonged at Trinity. This openness allowed me to work through my own anxieties during the LiA, if the students could be open, so could I. From this experience, I believe that open and honest communication is the bare necessity of leadership. Additionally, feelings of anxiety can be acknowledged and worked through. 

By acknowledging this anxiety I was experiencing and expressing it to my LiA lead, I was able to confront problems head on. The continued support from the staff at TAP, and the consistent encouragement to keep moving forward, has allowed me to complete this LiA. Without this strong leadership and sense of community evident in the TAP team, I am unsure how positively I would have felt about my LiA. Thankfully, my experience is overwhelmingly positive. Moving forward, I hope to embody the characteristics of the TAP staff. A positive outlook, enthusiasm, a ‘can do’ attitude, and a sense of community are more important to leadership than I could possibly hope to put into words.

Anxiety was admittedly my largest barrier when completing the LiA, apprehensions seemed to occur daily. A good example of confronting this anxiety occurred on the first day of the summer programme, in which I addressed a room of over 100 people, consisting of students and staff. I have never spoken in front of an audience so this was a huge hurdle for myself and I’m thankful for the support and encouragement from the TAP team. 

Going forward, I think it is important I acknowledge the anxiety I experience but do not allow these emotions to overwhelm me. From what I observed and experienced this summer, I don’t think being a leader means being the strongest person in the room. I think being a leader means being scared, but doing it anyway. It’s knowing when to take a stepback and ask for support. It’s fostering a sense of community and being a reliable team member that others can turn to for support. 

I was privileged enough to meet many aspirational leaders this summer, both within the TAP team and the summer school’s cohort. I hope to embody the characteristics I found aspirational within them, and I hope to continue to grow as a leader in a way that is still authentic to myself and identity.