Poor: Grit, courage, and the life-changing value of self-belief

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When the letter arrived offering a place on the access programme my dad got it framed. I felt happy, sad, scared and hopeful. But who would help me, who would look after my son? My friends were supportive and one of them told me about the Vinnies (St Vincent DePaul) – a group who could help people like me. I called the number, trying to explain without sounding desperate. They came over and were kind. A little posh, but they seemed genuine. Roche, Joseph and O’Sullivan, Katriona and Tangney, Brendan (2015) 'The Future of Motion Design as a 21st Century Skill in Irish Classrooms'. .

We love a rags-to-riches story, and we love to see someone triumph through sheer determination. But the story is rarely that simple. My story isn't, anyway.'O'Brien KK;Schuttke A;Alhakeem A;Donnelly-Swift E;Keogh C;O'Carroll A;O'Sullivan K;Galvin R;Fahey T; (2015) 'Health, perceived quality of life and health services use among homeless illicit drug users'. . [DOI] O’Sullivan has dedicated her life’s work to changing society for other women like her, but she has rightly dedicated this memoir to herself Burns G.;O'Sullivan K. (2022) ''Going the extra mile': Working class teachers and their engagement with parents'. Diversifying The Teaching Profession: Dimensions, Dilemmas And Directions For The Future, :125-134. [DOI]

higher education, with students who have entered university through the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR). The One of the best books I have ever read about the complexities of poverty . . . one of the most remarkable people you will ever meet GuardianShe is one of the few who has managed to climb out, to break a cycle; her story is shared in the hope others who identify, might find the motivation to pull themselves towards something that might bring them out of what is almost inevitable if you've grown up in such an environment.

Katriona was born in Coventry to Irish parents. She grew up in dire poverty, became a mother at fifteen and ended up homeless. Moving to her father's native Dublin, Katriona was hopeful that a change of place would bring positive changes to her life. As she says herself, it turned out that "nothing would change in Dublin......I had come to Dublin and to change my life and simply replicated it". I was elected class rep and became the go-to person for the students. I started to make friends. I met some really lovely people. I learned that life was hard for all of us. Amy, who was so kind to me, was the star of our year. I learned a lot from her. I discovered people who have had privileged lives are lovely too. They were not all judging me, or if they were, they did it politely and hid it well. Join the author of Poor; Katriona O'Sullivan in conversation with Lynn Ruane on the 25th May 2023. Iontas Theatre, North Campus, Maynooth University.

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When she told me she was in Trinity I thought, if she’s going there, I’m going there”, the author says. That day O’Sullivan marched up to the Trinity Access Programme and asked to be accepted into the college. This was the beginning of her new life in academia. Would she be hungry that day? Would she have to tend to another overdose in the household? Would the kids be able to see the shame that followed at her heels every morning? Would her Da, who she adores, give up the smokes and the drugs and save himself? If he couldn’t save himself, who would save O’Sullivan, and what would their fate be? Burns, G. & O'Sullivan, K. (2019) British Educational Research Association Annual Conference Early Career Teachers’ Understandings of ‘Making a Difference’: A Habitus Specific Idea University of Manchester, . O'Sullivan, Katriona and Mulligan, Robyn and Kuster, Megan and Smith, Ronan and Hannon, Cliona (2017) 'A college focused mentoring programme for students in socio-economically disadvantaged schools: the impact of mentoring relationship and frequency on college-going confidence, application efficacy and aspirations'. 19 (2):113-141. The @kildarereadersfestival hosted a talk with Katriona last night @riverbankartscentreie and she spoke about her book, her life now and her family. One take-home point from that for me was that children in poverty need more than just 'hard work' to make their way out into a better life. What use is hard work at school if you're not eating dinner at home? What use is 'hard work' if your parents' main priority at that time is drugs or alcohol? What use is 'hard work' if no one cares enough to keep you clean and wash your clothes?