'For the first time I have to question if what I love to do is what I should pursue'
Jennifer Fox (23)
The Science Student

From Bray, Co Wicklow, Fox recently finished her final exams at Trinity College Dublin, where she specialised in genetics. She was elected TCD student union's education officer for the forthcoming year, a full-time sabbatical position

'I think that the 'years of plenty' lured many of us into thinking that good grades were enough to secure funding for post-graduate courses. More and more people are 'escaping the recession' by staying in education, making the places available more competitive and raising the basic level of excellence required to be accepted and funded in post-graduate studies.

"Many of my fellow classmates are now worried that they may need to secure a part-time job in addition to studying for a PhD, simply to support themselves, thus prolonging the years of the traditional 'poor student' lifestyle.

"I never considered dropping out of college because I knew that education was the safest way out of an economic crisis. [But] there was one stage last year, when the restaurant I worked in part-time shut down, that the reality of paying my own way through college seemed overwhelming.

"The deteriorating jobs situation has definitely loomed. Many of my friends have been forced to keep working throughout the college year and into exam season purely because they are too scared to ask for time off in case there is no job waiting for them when they finish. This has added to the stress associated with a down-turning economic climate.

"Fortunately, I have a year in which to decide what to pursue next.

"But I have observed my classmates becoming increasingly apprehensive about leaving the security of college. No longer is getting into a postgraduate course the only major worry of graduating students – now we have to compete for ever-decreasing funding as well as contemplating the risk that even after completing postgraduate courses, we may not have a job available for which we can apply at all.

"I am somewhat nervous about pursuing a PhD in 2011, mainly due to the difficulty in securing funding for the three to four years which I would be committing to.

"For the first time in my life I have to question if what I love to do [genetics and science] is really what I should pursue – if there are no job prospects for when I complete my education, then the question of whether further studies are beneficial to my capacity to earn a living becomes apparent.

"But I am optimistic. I think people should pursue their passions and remain positive that the economic crisis, from which we are considered to have exited the worst stages, will not massively negatively impact on science graduates in the future.

"Ultimately I decided to do what I love. However, I suspect that some of my peers in their final year of science degrees would have perhaps chosen a degree with a more definitive career path, such as medicine or pharmacy, had they known then that attaining a job afterwards would be in doubt.

"In my capacity as education officer next year, I expect to experience many of the impacts of the current economic crisis on the education of TCD students across the board. I am intrigued to observe these impacts and to see how or if they alter people's perception of third-level education and its importance to the Irish economy.

"When the CAO results are released for this year's Leaving Cert students, it will be very interesting to see if the interest in subjects like business and economics has wavered in line with economic uncertainty."

'Nobody in my class is hopeful of walking into work. There's been no real mention of work'
David O'Meara (33)
The Construction Student

A mature student at Athlone Institute of Technology, O'Meara is completing the final year of his degree course in construction. He was presented with a student of the year award for 2010 earlier this year

'I'm a carpenter by trade and was self employed for about 10 years, working mainly in residential and commercial construction. I decided to do this course because I wanted to generally further my education and to expand on what I was doing.

"What I was thinking was that the course I did is closely related to quantity surveying and control of general projects in construction. So my thought was to follow it on with a quantity surveying qualification. I chose Athlone because it is close to where I live, and the course is actually a four-year course but condensed into three years which suited me. I was hoping to get work with a quantity surveyor and perhaps study by night

"For the guys working on the building sites, you couldn't see it totally deteriorating the way it did. I began to notice a very slight downturn, but nothing to the extent of what has happened.

"I suppose it's very simple really. People have stopped spending and there is a huge influx of carpenters, bricklayers, etc, going for the same job. So pricing has reduced dramatically. To be honest there are only small amounts of work and too many people for the one job. And that's it in a nutshell.

"It's been very difficult to stay focused on the end goal with the downturn going on. You don't know what you're going to get at the end of it. The job certainty is gone.

"I have considered emigrating, definitely, but I'm too well rooted here to leave.

"And I never considered changing course. Obviously I have a keen interest in construction too.

"But I am glad I did the course when I did, because if I didn't I probably would not be able to finance it at this stage. And I will have a degree which will come into play in a few years' time hopefully.

"A lot of the 18- to 20-year-olds in my class are considering further education in the hope that things will progress and get better in 2011/12. A few are considering doing a masters in construction management, and some guys are considering taking another year to do a degree in quantity surveying.

"But none are hopeful of walking into work. There's been no real mention of work. I have approached some recruitment companies who have just said, 'No, no work in construction.' And I would have a pretty healthy CV. But recruitment companies just don't have the jobs on offer.

"I'm still optimistic, though. Life has to go on and there will always be construction. I'm optimistic about getting out there looking for a job. It might not be at the salary I had first envisaged. But I just want to get out working."

'We can all see a time when we will be out of this downturn and Ireland will be prospering again'
clodagh Carey (22)
The Law Student

A final year law student at NUI Galway, Carey comes from Mitchelstown in Co Cork. She is doing a one-year bachelor of law course having completed a three-year degree in corporate law

'It goes without saying that job prospects have diminished since I began college four years ago. A lot has changed since then. However, coming from a corporate law background there are always opportunities arising both in Ireland and abroad in areas like banking, accountancy and research.

"Competition was always rife amongst law graduates to secure an internship in a law firm. The area of law has always been a competitive one. It did of course benefit from the Celtic Tiger, as did everyone. But from an early age, I knew I wanted to practise law and I am determined to follow that through.

"As it is, I am working from day to day trying to complete my last set of exams in university. I am hoping once I finish these exams there may be some jobs out there, be it in the hospitality industry or the administrative sector. I am hopeful.

"Since I had completed at least two years of college when the global economic downturn came to the fore in Ireland, I did not for one minute consider quitting my studies. Personally, I believe that a third-level qualification is worth having and one should do all in their power to ensure they get one if it is what they want.

"Both my friends in NUIG and around the country are trying to stay positive, because we can all see a time when we will be out of this downturn and Ireland will be prospering again.

"Ideally I would like to qualify as a solicitor in Ireland; however, I am looking into the possibility of qualifying in the United Kingdom.

"In world economics, Ireland's problems are not as severe as others. Ireland and its people have had a good time for a long time. I can safely say me and my fellow classmates have benefited from it

"Youth is a period of significant change for everybody as we grow up and mature. It is unfortunate that we have to combat the world economic downturn as well as developing our own minds.

"I am one of the lucky people in college today with no outstanding debts from my years as a student. My college years have been funded mainly by my parents.

"These are tough times for everyone, young and old. We have to be vigilant and creative while we wait. We need to stay strong and positive and hope that we have leaders in our country that can get Ireland back on track, boost our graduate employment levels and present me with a job that I like –and will be in – five years from now."

'Emigration is definitely in the back of my mind. A lot of us will be learning Chinese before long'
Aoiffe O'Kelly (24)
The Architecture Student

A final year architecture student at UCD, O'Kelly is originally from Kilkee, in Co Clare

'I began studying architecture in 2003, with a bachelor of architectural science degree [and spent] two years working in different practices and travelling. I was let go along with a number of others from a successful practice in Ennis in February 2008 because they were struggling. With job prospects looking scarce, I decided it would be a good time to come back to study. At that stage I had no idea the depths it would go to.

"Doing a thesis is stressful at the best of times but doing one with the knowledge that it might not be of direct use to you, or will not in any way improve your job prospects, is very disheartening.

"There is a resignation among the class to just get it done. People don't seem to care as much about their work or their marks; someone in my class said to me the other day, I don't care anymore, it's not like anyone's going to be looking at my CV for a long time.

"It's very difficult to stay positive, with not much to look forward to, no opportunity to save some money to take time off, and with the constant reminder of the situation.

"The negativity in the media is not helping the mood of people or the country in general.

"The closure of [major architectural firm] Murray O'Laoire was announced the day of our architecture ball. I'm not sure how many of the students were aware of it but I certainly felt an irony in the night.

"But what goes around comes around. [Our tutors] keep reminding us that the most innovative of solutions come out of trying times, and they're right. Just look at the regeneration of Temple Bar – a bunch of young, motivated, out-of-work architects [Group 91] creating a new city centre and Dublin's biggest tourist attraction.

"I haven't considered dropping out because it's only two years, and at the end of the day, I wanted to be an architect. There is no point thinking about what you're going to do afterwards but sometimes you can't help it. This is the first time for most of us that there hasn't been a framework in place... a logical next step to take. It's definitely stressful.

"It's definitely in the back of my mind [to emigrate], but I'm just thinking about one thing at a time. First I need to concentrate on getting my degree, then I will have time to sit down and seriously think about my options.

"The question of emigration might not just be to pursue a career in architecture but to do anything. A lot of my friends have left over the last few years, to London, to Australia, Canada and the States. Although their economies have been affected, they still seem to be coping better than here.

"Recently, quite a few graduates from last year have got jobs in architecture in London which is very promising. I think a lot of us will be learning Chinese before long.

"The latest problem among young people is that getting visas is becoming much harder. At least we are young enough to go. I would have always imagined myself working abroad anyway for a while so it doesn't upset me too much, but it would be nice to think you were going by choice.

"I really feel sorry for the people five or 10 years ahead of us, who have mortgages and families and had made the decision to settle here. They don't want to leave and couldn't get visas even if they did.

"The government should be a leading force, they should inspire and give hope, they should put their electorate first. There is no sense of that in Ireland at the moment. It feels like an 'us and them' situation."

'We were told we'd be lucky to secure a position, and the likelihood of getting placement was slim'
Niall Harty (22)
The Engineering Student

Originally from Limerick, Harty is a final year student of manufacturing engineering management at IT Tralee

'I started the course in 2006. At the time there were plenty of job opportunities. This year the manufacturing sector has seen the height of the job losses, with more and more big companies – our future potential employers – moving out to cheaper countries.

"During our course this year we were required to go on work placement for 22 weeks. At the start of the year we were told that we would be lucky to secure a position anywhere, and that the likelihood of all of us getting placement was slim. We all got somewhere in the end, by the skin of our teeth.

"It has crossed mine and my classmates' minds to consider a different career path, but after four years of hard effort I think it was better to stick out the last of our course. Hopefully the industry will soon be on the road to recovery.

"To be perfectly honest, I am apprehensive about the future. I think I will stay on to do my masters as an extra year, because economic growth is needed before we see some recovery in the sector.

"If I knew then what I know now, personally I would still have gone ahead with my course as it is what I want to do and what I'm suited to do. I think a lot of my current classmates feel the same, but considering there were 40 students in first year compared to eight of us now, I think that does say a lot.

"I do have debts, probably higher than most students, but I had no other choice. I had to finance transport for college somehow and a loan was the only option. I am slightly concerned about a steady source of income in the future.

"It's not a great start in life if you get a bad credit rating from a lack of jobs in your sector, especially when you're faced with mortgage applications in the future.

"Not many college students can say that they went through the four or five years without accepting some money from parents, but for the majority of the last four years I have worked part time.

"If I am in Ireland [in five years' time] I would consider myself very lucky.

"But being perfectly honest I have been considering trying to get into college lecturing. After the masters is complete, I would be considering handing CVs around so I would see myself hopefully working for a college, at least until the industry picks up."

'Some of my peers have loans in the thousands. It may become a very expensive few years'
Rhys Kellett (21)
The Auctioneering Student

Originally from Navan, Kellett is a final year student of auctioneering, valuations and estate agency at Dublin Institute of Technology

'I started in DIT in 2007. At that time jobs were everywhere. After the three-year course you could walk out the door and enter the industry almost instantly. There was money to be made everywhere and we were all eager to get into the industry.

"But for those of my peers hoping to pursue a career in the industry, it's worrying seeing the employment situation. I did wish to drop out on a number of times in the later years, but this was mostly due to being a broke student and my decision then to work outside the industry.

"My class has lost a few over the years and undoubtedly it's due to the high costs of college life and the insecurity of the industry. I originally wished to work in the cattle marts as an auctioneer, and this is what put auctioneering into my mind as a course. The course has nothing to do with cattle but I was originally only in college as I had to be. My plan was to always return to the family farm.

"In recent years plans have changed slightly and I hope to pursue a career in Glanbia [agribusiness], where I have had permanent part-time employment over the last five years, alongside farming. I consider myself fortunate that I have something to fall back on, which I know many of my peers don't. For now I'm just trying to enjoy the last two months, then I'm taking seven months out and I'll be into permanent employment.

"To date I'll have no outstanding debts with regard to my college education. I was lucky enough that my parents could carry me through it [college fees and accommodation]. It took a part-time job on weekends to keep me in 'beer tokens'.

"[But] some of my peers have loans up in the thousands, and my sympathy goes out to them. With no guaranteed job at the other end, and an economy down the drain, it may become a very expensive few years.

"For many like myself, this is the end of our college years and we are being turned out into a struggling economy. I don't know what job prospects will be like. If Nama becomes a property developer, it will spill jobs into the construction sector benefiting us, whether it's levelling ghost estates or finishing hotels. The national plan for the entire country to be revalued in terms of commercial ratings may spill a lot of work our way, if they ever get it moving."