St Angela's Secondary School, Waterford past pupil Alannah O’Reilly discusses the confidence she gained while completing a two-year Culinary Arts course
What course did you do?
Higher Cert in Culinary Arts.
Where are you from?
Ballygunner, Waterford
Why did you pick this course?
Leaving school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but from what I heard about the course a lot of people said that it would be the best thing for me to do. I always loved cooking from a young age, I used to bake with my nanny all the time, so I said that since the course had a pastry module aswell that I would definitely be interested in doing the course. So, I went for it.
What was your favourite part about the course?
We did a pastry module, I love baking. I love cakes, I love everything about pastry.
Did you do work placement?
Yes, I did work placement in a little café in Waterford called `The Pantry’. Since then I have now gotten a job in ‘Bellissimo’ in Adrkeen, Waterford.
What advice would you give to somebody thinking about doing the same course?
I would highly recommend it because even though it is just a two-year course, I think I have matured so much. Before I went and did this course my confidence was low but now, I am doing things I wouldn’t have done before. All the lecturers were so easy to talk to. My classmates were great. Everything was just brilliant.
Why did you choose WIT?
I didn’t want to leave home just yet having only come out of school. I wasn’t ready to travel yet.
What stands out the most from your experience at WIT?
The lecturers bring out a side of you that you didn’t even know you had. Everything about it just brought out a side that I didn’t know I had.
Interviewed by Susie Brennan at Conferring 2018
SETU Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford City, 
