MEON’s Guide to University: Advice for Nationalist Students

“All that I ask of you is to have a fixed purpose of some kind for your country and yourselves; no matter how restricted, so that it be fixed and unselfish.” — John Ruskin

Introduction

What follows is a guide directed toward Irish University students looking to make the most of their degrees, advance their future careers, and edify themselves. As Ireland faces issues on all fronts, it is important that students put their best foot forward - for themselves and for their nation. As nationalists, our credo ought to be self-development - a process orientated not merely for our interests, but also that of our people more broadly.

Statements such as “you will never have the same amount of free time in your life” ring true, but the difference between those who excel and prepare adequately for their futures and those who sleepwalk into failure is determined at the university level. You should enjoy your time in university, network, make friends, but above all do not forget the primary purpose of your enrolment – you are their to study, and study you must, for your own sake and that of Ireland.

Choosing a degree is the first step. Whether it be the sciences or humanities, the following advice is largely the same.

Grades

Grades are important. Do well in first year to make sure you get your choice of Erasmus destination. Ensure that you consistently achieve a first class honour — nothing less is satisfactory if you want to push yourself to the top. Don’t be afraid to negotiate politely with Professors if you believe you should have received a higher grade. You shouldn’t let your studies kill your social life, but a very important balance must be struck. Learning to manage your time is half the battle. You’ll find yourself swamped with endless work at times, and others completely absent of activity – lazing around passing your days by. Don’t be afraid to take a hermit arc, don’t be afraid to be lazy, so long as you have your eyes set on the prize, and you meet your deadlines.

Erasmus

Erasmus is a key component of any university programme. You should go on it. It’s good for your CV to be able to show you have experience living abroad and studying in a different country. It will also be a great opportunity to learn a language, and make friends across the continent. Choosing where to go is important, you want a university with name recognition, a fun city, a language to learn, all of which are easy to align. Professional development from this experience is important.

Languages

Languages are a must. Learn whatever supplements your career aspirations. French, Spanish, and German are the standards, but don’t be afraid to learn Russian, Japanese, or Chinese. We live in a globalised world, and economic and political engagement between Ireland and these countries is an inevitability; you may score yourself an easy niche should you specialise in any of these languages. Try to tailor your choice of language to your preferred Erasmus destination and if possible career utility.

Internships

Internships are important. Do as many as possible. Your summer breaks for university should not be considered as a time to doss around and just go on holiday. Reach for something more ambitious, if you want to go abroad – find an international internship that will bring you there. Intern in Ireland, even if it’s a small company, the experience is important. You may want to work for your summers, and that’s fair enough, but you can work during the academic year part-time, make sure you find a good job and keep asking for better work, searching for jobs with higher pay and climbing the ladder.

Student Societies

Societies are where the majority of student engagement on campus takes place. You should do your best to get involved with one. Get onto the committee if you can, its valuable experience for future workforce experience dealing with necessary competencies working on a team. You will meet insufferable people, who you will despise, but that itself is a worthwhile experience – learning to hold your tongue and save face in this environment is a valuable skill.

Naturally, you should join your course society. If you’re an economics student, the commerce society; if you’re a STEM student. Take your pick of whichever society is closest to your chosen degree path.

Debating societies are excellent experience for you to gain and get involved in. It may be a daunting task for public speaking, and similarly you will be faced with the variety of cringe wannabe protagonists that is standard for societies this large. Participate in debating competitions for your own development, and have fun engaging with the intellectualism of the activity.

Fun societies are always worth joining, find a sport you like, find a hobbyist society that aligns with your interests, literature, etc, there is plenty of choice.

There is no political vehicle worth putting your time into. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are a transactional Faustian bargain that could pay off or not — it depends on your willingness to deal with them.

Networking

Building a network is necessary. Your network are your friends, make as many as you can. From across the world, make as many as you can – who knows where these people will end up in the future, they could be powerful people, and its best to be friends should you have political aspirations of your own. Be polite, be friendly, keep in touch, and above all else – actually be their friends, become invested in their lives and their successes will bring you happiness, for who does not like seeing their friends succeed?

Career Choice

Choosing your career after university is a difficult decision to make and hard to predict, but try to narrow down what you want to do by the end of second year, and specialise in that subject via internships during the summer breaks. You may decide you hate this career path, but ultimately you can switch out of it early to something you actually want, but best to make the mistake earlier rather than when its too late to reverse.