09/09/2026
“I started my degree in UL six years after finishing school. It's never too late to figure things out.
After the Leaving Cert I spent the years that followed trying different things, from babysitting and trying other courses to working as a healthcare assistant in Sligo University Hospital.
While I always loved singing and dancing, I didn’t see it as a career choice. But year after year, I was feeling stressed about what course to do and I decided I just had to go for it and follow what I actually wanted to do.
Starting the BA in Contemporary Dance was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Over the past four years, I've had opportunities to explore creativity in ways I never imagined, from collaborating with musicians and international choreographers to researching the impact of music and dance on the brain through my final-year thesis on Alzheimer's disease.
Alongside my studies, I spent most weekends travelling between Limerick and Sligo to work 12-hour shifts as a healthcare assistant. It was busy and challenging at times, but it also gave me a deeper appreciation for the connections between healthcare, movement, and creativity.
What I'm most proud of isn't just graduating. It's trusting the process. So many of the things I tried before coming to UL didn't work out the way I expected, but every experience taught me something and helped lead me here.
This September, I'll begin a Master's in Nursing while continuing to dance whenever I can. For me, dance and healthcare aren't separate passions. They're both about connecting with and caring for people and I'd love to eventually find a link between the two of them, work-wise.
To anyone considering a creative pathway, definitely do it. You’ll learn so much and enjoy what you’re doing every single day.
People can feel under pressure to have everything figured out; take your time, follow what excites you. Life is too short to spend it doing something you don't love.”
- Jayne Feehily, BA Contemporary Dance graduate
