Hayley O' Donoghue - Advanced Diploma in Beauty Therapy
I enjoyed my Erasmus experience, travelling abroad without a family member and getting to experience work, a new city and its culture. The most important experiences for me was learning how to communicate and work with other people that I didn't know. I learned how to adapt to new cultures and new modes of transport as I had to get a train to arrive at college each day. Initially, going to a different country was slightly out of my comfort zone, but I felt it was very beneficial for my own confidence. Being picked for this Erasmus placement had already boosted my confidence and now even more so after completing it. I have realised that I am more capable than what I had originally thought.
Sarah Keating - Advanced Diploma in Beauty Therapy
Reflecting on my placement, I mostly enjoyed experiencing the different type of culture and I also really liked some of the techniques that they did differently compared to us back in Ireland. I have learnt how to be more independent, and I also learnt different techniques and different ways to apply these techniques to my work, to make it better for my clients. I have developed my confidence and improved my communication skills. I have also improved my professional skills that will help me in future jobs.
Emma Geraghty - Advanced Diploma in Beauty Therapy
I enjoyed the opportunity to live abroad for two weeks as it was the longest I had spent away without family. I was given a better insight into make up artistry and the opportunity to see what a nail technician does. Our course contains basic manicure and pedicure procedures. This helped me decide if I would like continue into a nail technician course once I have my advanced diploma in Beauty therapy. I feel that this placement opportunity has greatly helped with the development of my communication skills and my ability to adapt to different environments. We worked along side other students at the college which also helped with the development out my team work skills. I felt that my organisational and time keeping skills were also improved by ensuring that my appearance was up to standard and that I was on time for college each morning.
Katie Blake - Advanced Diploma in Beauty Therapy
While on my work placement in Glasgow I developed many skills such as independence by living away from my family and living on my own for the two weeks. I developed practical skills performing gel extension nails in the college and make up artistry, where we gained tips on eye make up blending and how to apply liquid eyeliner easily. We got shown how special effects for films is done which was something new and exciting. I gained more confidence in my practical work while on my work placement and I now feel this will benefit me for when my exams come up in May. I met new friends in the work placement as everyone was so nice and welcoming and very helpful during the two weeks. overall the work placement was very enjoyable, all the other Erasmus students that came along could not of been nicer and made the placement more enjoyable. The accommodation during our stay was amazing and spacious in the central of Glasgow city.
Caitriona Conway - Advanced Diploma in Beauty Therapy
Erasmus was an amazing experience. I was the only person going from Beauty Therapy, I was nervous about this at first, however the moment I arrived out there i immediately felt welcomed. I enjoyed spending time with the other students and we enjoyed many activities together. We bonded excellently together and got along extremely well. It was an amazing opportunity to work in a spa abroad. It was a life changing experience as the employer through me in the deep in and left me to my own accord. I was nervous at first however i exceeded my own expectations and realised i am capable of a lot more than i expected. It was a great opportunity to preform treatments on people from different nationalities as there was a language barrier. After this experience i have realised i want to travel and i am considering going back to Tenerife in the near future and working there.
Jad Kesrin - Hairdressing Year 2
On my placement I was doing lots of gents haircut, blow dries, up styles and learning more about hair colouring and treatments. I had to be on time each morning which was very good as it allowed me to be punctual and organised outside of my college experiences. I learned a lot of different hair styles and up styles, and I met lots of nice friends, and its so helpful that I can put all of this in my CV and I now have many more new skills, new experiences and knowledge to use going forward in my career in the hair sector.
Cloe Benson - Hairdressing Year 2
Overall, I loved the placement and I had an amazing time. During our time in Glasgow, we learned about the basic cuts with some of the teachers. It was great to see a different way of doing things to back in Ireland. We also got to take part in a few makeup workshops which we do have access to back home. We also had the chance to use a different colour brand, which is so useful to know how to use. During our time at New Lanarkshire College, we got to help with the open salon and also experienced the different levels of hairdressing they have to offer. This experience helped me develop confidence as I learned that I am at a similar level to the students in 2nd and 3rd year. Everyone that I met was so lovely, and by the second day some of the students were inviting us to their birthday and making sure we knew all the places to eat and explore Glasgows culture. It was great to get a fresh perspective and really relight my love of hairdressing.
Laura McGoldrick - Hairdressing Year 2
During my 3 week period in Glasgow, I first of all got to experience a new way of learning. At the college, although they taught the same way as us, they had different teachers throughout the day and I feel like it made a huge difference in the way the students learned. While in the college I got to practice and improve my cutting skills, blow-drying skills as well as picked up new methods and skills such as , fashion make up , competition skills and competition makeup which the students do along side their hairdressing course and not just hairdressing by itself.Everyone in the college , teachers and students were very welcoming and made it feel like home and included us in everything they were doing without hesitation.i also learned how to adapt to new unfamiliar surroundings as well as improving my communication skills by meeting new people, this will stick to me as i go through life in work as well as socially. We had the weekends free so we got to experience the city life , the restaurants and the different type of food as well as the history mostly in Edinburgh but also in Glasgow itself.
Tara Murphy - Hairdressing Year 2
During my training abroad, which was 3 weeks in Glasgow. The first week i was getting to know the college and was showed around the college and introduced to the staff that was involved in teaching the hairdressing. I got to learn that the students in Glasgow learn a different way to the way we learn as they spend 4 years in college and also have many different teachers. They also study make up with the hairdressing course.During my 3 weeks i learnt new skills and knowledge on how they blow-dried the hair and also cut the hair and how they work in there salons. I felt that leaning there skills i improved a lot on my skills and really improved on cutting and blowdrying, i also improved in my communication skills as i got to meet loads of new people and got more confident throughout my stay. I also improved on my communication skills as i was making new friends in the college and got on well with them.During my stay i also enjoyed it as i got to get to know Glasgow and see many places in Glasgow. The key experiences for me was that i was able to adapt to living away from home and making new friends. I also left Glasgow with new skills and techniques that will benefit me in my hairdressing. This will really benefit me in my future.
Saoirse MacDermott - Hairdressing Year 2
I have enjoyed the overall experience from the college to the people to nightlife and sight seeing. There was lots to do and see with everywhere being close to walking distance such as museums and cinemas. It has given me lots more confidence in relation to hairdressing and travelling abroad. I was very nervous to leave home but now i cant wait to see where i can go next. I met lots of fabulous people there who I will hopefully keep in contact with. This will help me in my future to put myself out there to travel and experience new things.