Gabriele Morkunaite – KCETB Ormonde College of Further Education, Kilkenny
I’m doing the Media Studies course at QQI Level 5. It’s a one-year course. I started last September and I’m expected to finish in April or May this year.
I heard about this course two years ago while I was in another full-time course with the National Learning Network in Kilkenny. It was a QQI Level 3 Employability Skills course, as part of the Rehabilitative Training programme. The instructors taught us things like basic life skills, and about health and well-being. We also learned about nutrition and better things you can eat. I got a lot of benefits from this course.
While I was at the National Learning Network, they had a Student Council. I wanted to put myself out there to improve my confidence and independence, so I applied to be on it to advocate for other learners. I thought it was a great opportunity and I got a lot of benefit from it. There was a mix of different classmates and people from different courses on it. I was the PRO, which stands for Public Relations Officer. I wrote the monthly newsletters to update students in the centre on upcoming events or trips, or if there were guest speakers and talks coming up. I kept everyone updated on what was going on. The other students also came to us with their feedback, comments or complaints.
I am now a member of the Student Council in Ormonde College too. There are representatives from all the different classes. A notice was posted about it on Microsoft Teams by our Vice Principal, Jennifer, asking if any current students from the college would like to be a member. We are sort of like class representatives – we take feedback from students in our class and address any complaints. Additionally, I am one of two students who are board members as representatives of the college: one female and one male.
Our lecturers here are very supportive and we have two SNAs on standby as well. We get additional supports if we need help throughout our class and also with our assignments. We definitely get support individually and as a whole group as well, so I find that very helpful. I do feel overwhelmed sometimes, but knowing that I will get support helps.
My Media Studies course is pretty broad. We have nine modules. There’s one called Film Production and another named Radio Production. We learn a lot about film itself, like theory-based work over PowerPoint, but then we also get to use filming equipment. I find that module, as a whole, really fun. Currently, we’re doing an assignment and actually making a film, so it’s definitely a big learning experience. We only have three current members left in the Media Studies group, so we all get to be directors and editors and everything for the film. We share all the roles.
I would definitely recommend the Media Studies course that I’m currently on. It’s great, and if you had never done anything media-related, there’s a lot to learn from it. And then also, on a personal level, you make a lot of friendships as well, like long-lasting ones. When you meet classmates, you know you’ll have a certain kind of nice bond with them too. So I find those are two good benefits that I’ve gotten from the course.
The only thing I’d change is something that I brought up with my classmates. I would like if our timetables were kept up to date. Our timetables have sometimes been changed around from when we started last year in September. When you’re a person who likes routine, it can be difficult if it changes.
In the future, I want to keep my options open because I’m uncertain of what exactly I’d like to do. I’d maybe go into the employment sector or, if that doesn’t work out, maybe continue in Further Education and do something like another media studies-related course. I think I’d have to go somewhere else for that. I will probably speak to a guidance counsellor in the college if I want to take things further.
In five years’ time, I just imagine having some sort of nice employment in something I like doing.
