If you had told me a year ago that I would successfully finish my MSc in Digital Marketing at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and have a fantastic job in a year. I would have probably said, “Yeah, sure, fingers crossed!” while feeling anxious and excited.

Looking back, it feels surreal how I managed to survive the past year and been awarded Second-Class Honours (2:1). I made the best of that year while freelancing, volunteering, starting two family businesses, and now working for a unique NGO, FoodCloud with the most wonderful colleagues.

I have never been a student who has given 100% to school, who is academically perfect. But I always made sure I made the best of my time and delivered my best quality work. This is why I took on multiple projects and volunteer work to improve myself in a diverse set of skills while giving back something.

I have enjoyed being a class representative, loved working with Dr. Linda H Yang as her head of communications for the Intercultural Development Programme, as well as working as a project assistant helping her and Dr. Julia Backmann with their webinar for the National Seminars Series, helped incoming students on Unibuddy platform as I know how hard it is to make this life-changing decision, continued my digital nomad/freelance life and grew my customer base, launched Belfield Strategy Group, the Belfield branch of Irish Student Consulting Group (ISCG) with a fantastic team, finished a 3-month brand ambassador programme with Acadium and reached out to more than 15,000 people, had a chance to intern with Tom in Sprintmodo and most importantly I met so many beautiful, astonishing people along the way.

I would like first to thank my parents, who trusted me and always pushed me to be better to fulfil my potential. Secondly, my friends, who pulled me up when I couldn’t stand it anymore, always showed love and support. Last but not least, to my mentor Linda for always lighting up my way even in my darkest hours and professors Julie Schiro, Mary Lambkin, Marius Claudy, Elaine Malcolm, Andrew Keating, Shane Lyons, Marina Doronkina and Marija Grishin for their invaluable guidance and teaching.

Here to the one day, I have spent in UCD Michael Smurfit;

September 2021: Fast-forwarding one year, I am waiting for my MSc results without ever stepping inside a lecture hall. Then an invitation arrives in my email for an incredible event. It was an exceptional honour and privilege to meet Dr Michael Smurfit, founder of the UCD Smurfit School, and H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco in UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School while being on campus for the first time.