Shane McDaniel
As a mature student I found supports such as the Anthropology Society, greatly beneficial. The society enabled members to share their interest, while meeting like-minded people. There were also plenty of other interesting clubs and societies to join, with some featuring excellent guest speakers.
I was involved with the Anthropology Society for several years. During that time, we won an award for best new society in Ireland.
I found the chilled-out atmosphere of Maynooth great, especially when living on campus. The library was also fantastic. During breaks from studying I used to go for a nice stroll in the gardens of the seminary, which were located nearby.
Maynooth helped me become a better public speaker, a skill which I use regularly in my role as a teacher. Studying anthropology played a major role in preparing me for the working world and gave me an insight into different cultures.
Anthropology is a very broad subject, with endless possibilities that allow you to further your career prospects. Do research into the course and make sure you pick it for the right reasons.
I moved to Vietnam in 2017 and have been teaching English here ever since.
I am currently in the process of setting up my own language centre.
Teaching English while creating both a fun and interesting environment.
One of the most interesting aspects of the job is experiencing new ways of teaching and learning. What is challenging is adapting to different cultural norms and dealing with the bureaucracy here in Vietnam.
I travelled to Vietnam to gain employment. While there I learnt that the country was going through an economic boom and as a result there were more opportunities for me here than in Ireland.
I would highly recommend people to travel and work abroad if they get a chance. It is a great way to find out what your strengths are and makes you more knowledgeable of the world, in this globalised economy.