June 2016: South Tipperary Legal Studies student at WIT Lauren Hayde explains the benefits of studying in the south east and staying close to home
Lauren Hayde has just completed Year 2 of Higher Cert in Legal Studies at Waterford Institute of Technology.
Lauren Hayde who is from Rosegreen in Co. Tipperary attended Cashel Community School, Cashel Co. Tipperary. She hopes to work in the law sector following her studies in Waterford.
Lauren explains why she chose to study close to home at WIT. “I chose my course as the subjects were broad and sounded very interesting. Law was always something that was of interest to me so this course was a great step to start learning about the field of law. I chose to study in WIT as I knew from the open day I attended that this is the college I want to study in. The people I met on the day were extremely friendly and very helpful which is what you’re going to look for in a good college. They offered a great range of courses to study also. Two of my sisters attended WIT as well so this helped me In choosing Waterford as I got a view from them on how thy found WIT. I picked Waterford as I have always loved Waterford as a city from a young age. The people are very welcoming and there is a great sense of culture in the city also. There is always something to do on a break from study as it’s on the coast.”
Lauren explains the benefits of living in Waterford. “I have lived in shared student accommodation for the past two years of college. Some of the benefits of living in Waterford are; firstly you’re getting the chance to move to a new place away from home, you get the chance to learn how to be dependent experience something new. You get to meet new friends/ housemates that could turn out to be friends for life. You’re close to college which will help you as if you need to use the library etc they are close to you, this is one thing that helped me immensely as if I had an assignment to complete and I maybe needed a book or to print something, the college was in close proximity. It was also very easy to commute home at the weekend as the bus was cheap as it wasn’t a long distance from home which made it easier on both me and my family. I found it nice not being too far from home as if I needed anything from home I knew my parents weren’t too far from me and it wasn’t putting pressure on them to be travelling long distances to me in college.”
Lauren’s advice for CAO applicants who are considering their options is “take the time to consider what course you want to study, make the right decision. Pick something that you yourself want to study and don’t pick a course in a college cause maybe that’s where your friends are going. You don’t want to make the wrong decision when it comes to what course you want to do or what college you want to attend. If you are really interested in a certain area or course find out more about it, get onto the college to get in contact with someone who’s already studying it and if then you feel that it’s what you want to do then go for it. In most cases a lot of colleges offer the same variety of courses so pick a college that’s near you, it will make life a lot easier on both yourself and your family.
She encourages any incoming students and even current students to get involved with various clubs or societies in college or even become a class rep to make the most out of their college experience.
“It’s something that you won’t ever forget and will be with you for the rest of your life, it will also make the college a much more enjoyable experience.”
When she first came to WIT she joined different clubs on clubs and socs day and was also a member of the Welfare crew. I helped out at various events through the year for different campaign weeks.
“This year I ran for the student union elections and I was voted in as the incoming entertainment officer in the students union. I was a member of the local boxing club in Waterford which affiliates with the college, I was also a member of the Equestrian club in WIT I helped in the signing up of new students into this club organising lessons weekly. I was also a class rep in first year as well and this stood to my college life immensely. I got to meet other people from different courses, I got to help my own class out with any issues they may have had.”
Main Campus Cork Road, Waterford City, 
