Award-winning Bachelor of Business (Hons) student Alex Fitzgerald speaks about friendships made in SETU, his inspiring Accounting lecturer, and always keeping your options open.
"I felt inspired, determined and focused to work my absolute hardest to achieve this award as it would require a lot of study and hard work to get there." Alex Fitzgerald, CIMA Management Accounting prize winner & SETU student
Alex, a past pupil of De La Salle Waterford, Waterford City, is one of two students at South East Technological University (SETU) to be presented with a CIMA Management Accounting Prize. This award was presented Head of the Department of Accounting and Economics, Mr Ger Long. It was presented to the student with the best Management Accounting result for a Bachelor of Business (Hons) and BA (Hons) in Accounting at the University.
Thankful to have taken the leap
On the eve of the Change of Mind closing date for CAO I changed my mind and made SETU my first preference. The amount of support and opportunities students can get involved with amazed me. The nightlife and vibrant city centre were all local to me and the amazing college experience you get at SETU are among the reasons why I changed my mind. I'm delighted l I took the leap to study in Waterford and love every minute of it. I think if I never changed my mind I would have never thrived and enjoyed college as much as I do now.
Options
My biggest advice would be to always keep your options open. With my course, there are so many options including a teaching placement, which no other common entry business course offers in Ireland.
Small class sizes
I know it sounds cheesy but it is the community and the friends you make along the way. With such small course sizes, you get to know your classmates well, sometimes even more than your own family! They are there for the ups and downs of college life.
Waterford as a student city
Living in Waterford meant I knew the area very well and it’s extremely fortunate to know I can arrive home, not worry about rent or bills and enjoy the freedom of being a student without the financial worries that come with it so often.
Reaching out
I was able to meet plenty of new people and made friends through these experiences. All these people are diverse in terms of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. I learned and understood different viewpoints on issues affecting Irish society. To anyone thinking of going to SETU, I’d say reach out and ask about the course and the college. There are plenty of people at the University ready to help and are just an email, call or DM away.
Chartered Institute of Management of Accountants Award
My lecturer, Dr Breda O' Brien was the lecturer who had me for the Costing and Management Accounting Techniques modules on my course. She talked about this prize on offer and I felt inspired, determined and focused to work my absolute hardest to achieve this award as it would require a lot of study and hard work to get there. When I heard I would be receiving the award I was shocked. I felt elated that all my hard work paid off and after I heard the news I told my family, particularly my mother as she is supportive of me and my college work.
