Ella Sloane, a news reporter at The Irish Times, started off at Trinity similar to all other 2020 fresher students: alone. During the height of the COVID -19 pandemic, students were forced to isolate and participate in classes online, a time which almost no active Trinity undergraduate students will have experienced for themselves anymore. Times were tough for all, and the raucousness that for many defined their first few weeks as a fresher was almost completely flipped in the case of Ella and the rest of the class of 2024.
“So I was living in Trinity Hall, and we were under lockdown with lots of restrictions in place. So I think I didn’t get to really spread my wings and stuff until second year…I feel like [the pandemic] might have even helped me to get to where I am now, there’s a lot of time for self reflection and taking advantage of all the societies and publications and stuff that Trinity has to offer, and I possibly even took on too much not really knowing. But I didn’t regret any of it, because I think first and second year are probably the best years that you can throw yourself into that.”
Sloane is referring to the fact that many Trinity students will not have their marks contribute towards their final mark until 3rd and 4th years, a popular excuse for partying and procrastinating in the first few years of university.
When it comes to what Sloane would do differently for herself back then, she emphasises “confidence” above all else. She stresses the importance of “not being afraid to put yourself out there” in particular, as well as “doing what you enjoy”. If a new student can manage that, Sloane says “to try as much as possible…then things will come easier”.
Sloane admittedly did not have much time to figure out who she was as a person while stuck inside, but luckily came to College knowing key aspects of herself already. She was “very creative” and “open to getting to know new people”: something that she credits to her “small school culture in Leitrim”.
“Dublin was, like, quite a culture shock in that way. But it was all very exciting”, Sloane said.
When asked about what she thought about her undergraduate experience looking back, Sloane did not hesitate to hide her optimism.
“I would say I’m kind of happy with how things turned out, so not to be so anxious or worried and just do all the things that you did…I don’t have any regrets. I think most things happen for a reason…these things can just be redirection.”
For someone like Sloane, completely isolated for her first year, emerging from the university experience with positive memories of a college life well-lived seems unnatural. However, her optimism, despite her circumstances, should give any fresher hope for the same.
“You’re not gonna believe how much you can change in four years”, said Sloane. “And how many people you’ll meet!”
