A young chef from the Liberties in Dublin has reflected on her journey from Leaving Cert failure to working in a Michelin star restaurant saying the exams are "not the be all and end all".
Aoife Comerford, now 23, became very sick during fifth year with a Helicobacter pylori infection, a bacterial infection which causes damage to the lining of the stomach and can lead to stomach ulcers.
She was in and out of hospital during fifth and sixth year but was determined to catch up on the schoolwork she was missing out on.
Unfortunately, she failed her maths and biology exams so her dream of going to university that year slipped away.
"I went into school and opened my results and burst into tears. My points were so low, I couldn't get into a course if I wanted to," she recalled.
"I felt I should've studied more, I could've done better, I should've worked harder, but when I think back on it now, I did all I could've done at the time."
Aoife's older sister was the first person in her family to go to university and Aoife was determined to follow in her footsteps.
When she saw her Leaving Cert results, panic set in until she remembered that she had applied for the TU Dublin Access Programme. It is a one-year course which prepares students for undergraduate studies.
Aoife's high marks led to her receiving a place to study Culinary Arts at the university the following year.
She was also awarded the 1916 Bursary, which encourages the participation and success of students from sections of society that are significantly under-represented in higher education.
"It doesn't mean anything just because someone started earlier than you or did better in the Leaving Cert than me, now we're on the same playing field."
Aoife is currently working as the junior pastry sous chef at the Michelin star restaurant Glover's Alley in Dublin city.
"I love what I'm doing now, I'm really happy and feel very grateful. Every time I come into this restaurant, I feel blessed and that's the truth," she said.
"I’ve been here a few years now and it's unimaginable. I never thought I'd be at this level, I never thought I'd hold a Michelin plaque in my hand, but I have."
Aoife used to be embarrassed to say that she failed her Leaving Cert, but now she loves to share that with people so they can see that you can still achieve your dreams even if the exams do not go your way.
"That's the thing with the Leaving Cert, it's so much pressure. Any time you see a relative that year they're like, 'Make sure you’re studying' or 'I hope you’re studying now' and it’s always the same. People need to just say 'try your best' instead," she explained.
"I'm not saying to not study hard for your Leaving Cert, but it isn't the be all and end all. When I was in sixth year, I thought it was, that if you failed your Leaving Cert, you'd never do anything, that's how it was put to me in school. But after I left, I realised that it wasn't."
