I don’t know if I can ever truly put into words how grateful I am to have been a part of the Engage programme. It gives students hope for their futures where they may otherwise have had none.

Being part of Engage offers an extra dynamic to the third-level experience that simply cannot be found on campus, in which there is a real and honest acknowledgement of shared challenges and practical solutions in the company of people with similar backgrounds and understanding.

Engage is the difference between me securing a career or working in an unskilled job. They provided the financial support and the study support I needed to succeed in college. For those in disadvantaged areas, Engage are the greatest support for securing a career.

Without the help of the team at Engage, I don’t know if my first year at college would have gone as smoothly as it did. People who are not in or have never been to college fail to understand the struggles we face, but thankfully Engage have helped me very much. I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart.

The term ‘disadvantaged’ does us a disservice. As a kid, it puts a bad idea in your head, that you can’t do the same things as other kids or that you’re not as valued. Even though you may have access to more resources because of various initiatives for ‘disadvantaged’ kids, the label is saying you’re not naturally able for more.