As the current cohort of Leaving Cert survivors let out sighs of relief that one of the biggest exams that they will ever sit is behind them, it seems that everyone else in Ireland reflects on their own Leaving Cert experience.

Graham Cosgrave, NCI alumnus, current Director of Medical Recruitment at MatchMedics, was among the many who shared that all the worries and disappointments he contended with on his own results day ended up being the starting point for what would become a very fulfilling academic journey.

It was a pleasure to speak to Graham, as nearly fourteen years later, he can confidently say that coming to National College of Ireland was the right path for him all along.

“When the Leaving Cert results came out, they just were not what I was expecting. I was disappointed not to be going straight to the degree course I wanted, but I was happy to accept what I had considered my ‘safety’ option of NCI, to do the Higher Cert in Business.”

Although his road to college did not start out the way Graham had originally hoped, his time as a student at National College of Ireland was highly enjoyable. He credits all members of staff for being very welcoming which made his experience such a positive one. “NCI really picked me up when I needed it. Everyone was so kind, particularly Professor Colette Darcy (NCIs Dean of the School of Business). She was a brilliantly engaging lecturer, and her open-door policy made it extremely easy to ask for help when needed.”

Graham began his academic journey by studying on the Higher Cert in Business in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management, initially feeling unsure, but in time, by making friends and utilising the supports offered by the College and the faculty, he found that he became more confident in his studies. Over time, it became clear that his time on the Higher Cert would open the door for Graham and his fellow students to go on to pursue degrees in various areas such as finance, HR, and accounting. “NCI broadened my horizons. It was fantastic to see all the different things people in my class decided to pursue. From our initial experience on the Higher Cert, we were able to go to study further in the areas that we were interested in.” 

Graham’s perspective shifted during his time at National College of Ireland. He evolved from worrying about if everything would work out, to feeling that NCI was where he belonged. “I really loved my course, and I feel that I learned a lot outside of lectures too, because there were so many different people in my class from different places, and we all had our own ideas and goals.” 

Graham’s time at NCI enabled him to enter the workforce, his first role was in HR, directly connected to his studies. While working in HR, Graham was able to discover and explore further areas of his field and over the next ten years, his role evolved as he discovered that he enjoyed the recruitment side of his sector. Now, as Graham is happily reflecting on his time at NCI, he is delighted to have studied here, as he feels that the College taught him so much, professionally, and personally. “My confidence grew alongside my skills, and I was able to identify where in the field would make me feel the most fulfilled. It is great to be able to grow in a role that you really enjoy.” 

Graham is very proud of his current role, because it is one that he loves, and he is delighted that he has been able to remain connected to NCI in various ways as a few of Graham’s current colleagues are part of NCI’s recruitment programmes, so even all these years later, Graham is steadily seeing how National College of Ireland continues to help students thrive, just as he thrived when he took an unexpected path.

We are delighted that Graham enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane. He is happy to share his experience, hoping that it may help some students today. Graham recalls how hard it was to face that disappointment when results do not go as planned, and how worrying that uncertainty can be, so he hopes his insights will especially encourage students who may be disappointed, or any current NCI student who is hoping to navigate their way to a satisfying career path.

At National College of Ireland, we love staying connected with past students as seeing what they have gone on to do with their qualifications is highly rewarding. We especially love hearing stories like Graham’s, as helping students find the path that is right for them is something we are passionate about. As we look forward to welcoming new students this September, we hope they will all enjoy their time here as much as Graham did, and we hope that when they reflect, they will feel that they too found the right for place for them here at NCI.

Learn More about the Higher Certificate in Business at National College of Ireland.

Learn More about the BA (Honours) in Human Resource Management at National College of Ireland.