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Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Starting secondary school: How to cope with a steep learning curve
THE transition from primary school to secondary is a milestone, involving significant change, including new teachers and classmates. We ask five well-known people to share their memories of starting secondary school. And what's their advice for students on the move this autumn? Luke Saunders, teacher and Studyclix co-founder 'I went to an all-boys school, Marian College. It was on the Dart line — there were fellows from all over. I'd come from a national school with just boys from our locality and was thrown in among boys from the inner city, from the Northside, from all walks of life. It was an eye-opener. In hindsight, a great education in life. 'I remember the size of the sixth-years; fellas with big beards and giant jumpers, the size of a teacher. Me thinking, 'Oh holy God, these are giants.' 'In national school, you walked in with your books in your bag, sat at one table all day. Now, there was this sudden independence, figuring it out for yourself, getting the right book for the right class on the right floor; walking to the train to get home. 'Being suddenly responsible for myself was a step-up I really enjoyed. 'Being able to walk around where you wanted at lunchtime was really refreshing; you could walk to the local shop with a group of your mates. 'Apprehension was big in the early days. It was a whole new world. I was always in to soccer, played football — it gave me a common language with a lot of the fellas I wouldn't have known. 'Nowadays, parents send their children to lots of activities. It has definite benefits: Spending [time in] new environments with different kids develops a helpful skillset for secondary school. 'For kids starting second level, who don't know anyone else going, I'd recommend parents organise a meet-up for their child with someone you know who will be going there. Even if they don't become best buddies, at least it's a friendly face.' Aileen Hickie, Parentline CEO CEO of Parentline, Aileen Hickie photographed at home with her dog Scout. 'It was a big transition, moving from a small primary school with 13 in my class to boarding school: Drishane Convent, Millstreet. I was 11. I knew nobody; everybody else was going to Millstreet Secondary School. 'I had two entirely separate school uniforms: A green one for weekdays, and a royal blue with blazer and pleated skirt for Sundays and special occasions. There were lots of bits to my new sports uniform — special skorts for camogie, shorts for gym, and a different uniform for hockey than you had for tennis. 'I remember my mother bringing me to Cork to get the uniforms, but also to get the labelling done. Everything had to be labelled: Nightwear, underwear, socks. We had to bring our own sheets, quilt cover, pillowcases — two lots. 'I was now living with 200 strangers, as opposed to my family. It was a strict boarding school run by a French order. There was a lot of etiquette — we were never to have our top button open. At mealtimes, you were watched to ensure you used the right cutlery and didn't have your elbows on the table. 'I was in a six-bed dorm, with a seventh bed for the head of the dormitory, a fifth-year. For washing, you pulled a curtain around you at the sink. There was a timetable for your bath and for your hair wash, which was done in the sink. The two weren't at the same time and you strictly couldn't do them outside of what was timetabled for you. 'There were feelings of loneliness — you'd hear a lot of crying at nighttime in the early weeks. We were all trying to get used to the transition. 'I really enjoyed boarding school. I'm glad I did it. It made me independent. I went to college in Dublin when I was 17. I wasn't afraid by then — the big wrench was when I was 11. 'Everything about secondary school is about being organised: Around timetable, sports, what you need to bring into school, what you need to bring home for homework. Teaching your child to be organised is a huge part of getting them settled. It helps build confidence and independence.' Children's Ombudsman Niall Muldoon Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children Michael Dillon Photographer 'Coming from a small national school of boys and moving to the Abbey Vocational School, Donegal, was a big transition. The school had outgrown itself, so we had classes in other buildings around town: The Methodist Hall, the Club Room, O'Cleary's school. We went to the St John Bosco Centre for PE. 'It was a real bit of independence; you had that freedom, fun with your classmates. I enjoyed it. 'I loved the variety: There were girls in the school, people from the country, from farms, from the posh part of town, kids who loved sports or cars. I remember one boy, really bright, a Protestant from a farm. We were from different backgrounds, but we got on like a house on fire. I really enjoyed that experience of mixing with different people. 'I was overweight in first year. My Irish teacher suggested I'd be good at the short putt. He arranged for me to go to the local athletic track. I wasn't good at it, or at the long jump, but I became very good at the high jump. That encouraged me to stay in athletics and by the end of first year I could run four miles. 'My weight stabilised. I grew to six foot. It made me fit and healthy. That small gesture was life-changing for me. 'With my own kids, when they were starting, I told them there'd be lots of difference, but to enjoy and embrace it. Acknowledge your child may be nervous, scared, but paint it as exciting. Encourage them to make different friends, enjoy different subjects; it all becomes very positive because of that.' Author Amy Jordan Amy Jordan, author 'We'd moved house prior to my starting secondary, so I didn't go in with my class. I went straight from sixth class in Carriagaline to first year at St Peter's Community School, Passage West. I felt a bit lost in the first weeks, but my overall experience was very positive. 'I was very excited to get my first locker. I thought it'd be amazing. You're handed your padlock and it's so cool. I quickly realised the locker had to be managed. You have to get your timings right: Get books out for the next three classes, at the end of the day put books in and run for the school bus. 'Having to run your locker is very grown up. It's a good thing for a child, a soft introduction to being more responsible. 'And the number of teachers you have in the day. You go from one person in primary who takes on a parent role, to six or seven different adults a day teaching you. 'It's a lot of different temperaments and teaching styles for you to get used to and it all happens in one day. 'I'll allow my children, aged 12 and 11, to go where their friends are going. I feel schools are all of a certain standard; they all offer the same subjects. The deciding factor will be: Where do you want to go, and where are your friends going?' Mike Mansfield, director of communications at youth mental health support charity Jigsaw Mike Mansfield 'I went from a small, rural, boys-only primary to the large, uniformed Galbally College in Ballinasloe, a mix of day pupils and 150 boarders from all parts of the world. A definite change. You had the cool kids sent down from the city, and I remember a boy from Zimbabwe. 'It was an anxious time. Secondary school was louder — I remember the noise. And worrying about finding the next class. You had a piece of paper with a bit of a map, but where was the history class? Mr Kelly's maths class? That fluidity compared to primary was difficult to get used to. 'A level of anxiety in a 12-year-old transitioning to secondary is completely normal. It's not something parents should instantly react to. Trust that children are resilient and can cope with a bit of anxiety — it's important to let them sit with it for a while. To feel it, find their own way to cope and respond to it, as opposed to a parent trying to eradicate it.'
Irish Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Three in four students worry AI will negatively affect career but more using it
Nearly three in four secondary school students worry Artificial Intelligence will negatively affect their career - but more are using it than ever before, a survey has found. There is so much worry that 30 per cent are considering alternate professions. The research, which was carried out by StudyClix, also found one in 10 young adults were planning to actively avoid careers which they think AI will dominate. While one-in-four said they will consider the impact machine learning bots will have on whatever field they want to go into. Despite the worry, a third of the students quizzed said they regularly use AI tools like ChatGPT and image generators. In addition, comparison with previous survey results reveals a growing take-up of AI tools among students, with just one in five (20 per cent) using AI in 2023 versus four in five (81 per cent) of respondents this year. But the research also highlighted the need for schools to properly address how and when AI should be used. More than four in five (86 per cent) said that AI has only been mentioned informally in class or not discussed in-depth in terms of its utilisation for homework or exams. Luke Saunders, a former secondary school teacher and co-founder of Studyclix, said: "The survey results suggest that students are extremely savvy, first in how they use AI, and second in how they are anticipating the ways in which it will impact their future career prospects. "AI tools are already revolutionising the way that we learn and work, yet schools are already playing catchup with very little guidance or awareness on how to manage AI use in the school setting. "We would urge school staff to begin taking account of AI development when offering career guidance. "The concerns of students are founded, and it is credit to them that they recognise the direction in which the technological winds are blowing and are responding accordingly. It's up to schools to do the same and help these students to navigate the uncertainty." In addition to quizzing students on AI, it also revealed three quarters said their parents do not monitor their online activity. Digital technology is also a major source of tension in the household after one in five (22 per cent) reported that their phone use is the single biggest cause of conflict between them and their parents. Meanwhile, almost four in 10 (38 per cent) said their biggest cause of conflict is not studying enough. Mr Saunders added: "The discovery that three quarters of all respondents are not having their online activities and phone use monitored by a parent is surprising given the public debate earlier this year around Adolescence, the Netflix drama which follows the fallout of a young boy's murder of a female classmate. "That more are reporting the introduction of rules around phone use in the home, and that phone use has become a significant source of conflict in the home, shows that parents are increasingly aware of the need to curtail phone use. "However, in that context, it's concerning how little oversight many have over the content their children are consuming." The survey also found students' favourite social media app was Snapchat followed by TikTok and Instagram - which has been declining in popularity. Meanwhile, more than one in four (27 per cent) reported encountering racist, homophobic, or sexist online content each day, while three in 10 (30 per cent) said they see it several times a week. Almost seven in 10 (66 per cent) said the content was most visible on the social platform TikTok, while six in 10 (60 per cent) said Instagram. The number of students who reported rarely or never seeing racist, sexist, or homophobic comments has decreased over the past 12 months, from 18 per cent in 2024 to 16 per cent in 2025.
Axios
20-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Selling steak from a vending machine
Steak is showing up in some odd places these days. The latest: Just weeks after Potbelly launched a prime rib sandwich, Chicago's Farmer's Fridge is selling steak from a vending machine — albeit in a salad. What they're saying: "We're seeing a moment for peak protein demand and want to give our customers what they're craving," Farmers Fridge CEO Luke Saunders tells Axios. "We know there are people who are skeptical about trying fresh food from a vending machine. Now we're asking them to go a step further and order steak." Between the lines: This Steakhouse Chopped salad ($13) arrives at a time when the nation is returning to meat despite big bets over the last decade on plant-based alternatives. Zoom in: The salad combines mixed lettuce and Napa cabbage with roasted potatoes, balsamic caramelized onions and shaved Parmesan, drizzled with Caesar dressing and topped with crispy fried onions and tender, medium-rare cubes of seared flank steak. The verdict: I love how the rich blend of steak, potatoes, onions and parm plays off the freshness of the greens and crunchy accent of the onions. This feels like a full meal. The caveat: Farmer's Fridge just started rolling these salads out last week, and they're not super easy to find. Full disclosure: Last week, I had to ask a company spokesperson to help me locate a steak salad near me. I nabbed one in the U.S. Customs House on South Canal, where I had to go through a federal security check to get to the machine. The salad costs $13 at most locations, but prices can vary in hot spots like airports. What's next: Farmers Fridge reps say the salads will gradually become more ubiquitous, but, for now, it's best to use the company's app to see if the machine near you has one.
Irish Examiner
20-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
What to say and what to avoid saying to the exams student in your home
Over the next few weeks, 135,000 students will sit the State exams. Others will grapple with school exams. All of which translates to a high degree of household stress with last-minute revision, panicked regrets, and mounting anxiety. In such circumstances, it is easy for parents to say the wrong thing. We ask five experts about what not to say to young people facing exams. 'It's only your Junior Cert' Exams are challenging and it is natural for your child to feel anxious. But saying, 'It's only' this, or, 'It's just' that is not helpful. 'It undermines the natural anxiety they have and makes them feel silly,' says Luke Saunders, teacher and co-founder of revision website Studyclix. But he understands that 'parents are wired to remove challenges from their children'. 'I was rubbish at maths' 'To say, 'I'm bad at this, therefore you should be' is one of the worst things you can say. You're giving them a get-out-of-jail card. It's deflating and lowers expectations,' says Saunders. 'You'll be fine. You'll fly through it' It fools nobody and does not address what your child needs, Saunders says. 'The student hears their parents saying 'This isn't going to be challenging'. They think 'We all know it will be, so my parent is lying to me'. 'It's much better for parents to say 'It will be challenging and we're going to do our best to support you'. Removing challenges from our children doesn't help their resilience,' says Saunders. Luke Saunders, Studyclix co-founder. 'You can't remove the exams. You can only support your child. Exams are challenging and a part of life, a part of growing up. It's about building resilience. As a parent, you can say, 'I'm here to help'.' Gemma Lawlor, guidance counsellor at Tyndall College, Carlow, says parents need to tune in to their children. 'Allow them to say what they need to say. Really listen, absorb it for them — you're their cushion.' Saying 'We know you'll do great' sounds supportive, but can carry a hidden pressure, says Eoin Houlihan, guidance counsellor with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, who works at Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School, Dublin. 'It suggests failure isn't an option.' 'Don't be nervous' It feels so natural to say, says Dublin- and London-based counselling psychologist Dr Sheena Kumar. 'But, from a psychological perspective, you're dismissing their feelings. And you're adding pressure to be calm, rather than helping them navigate natural nervous symptoms.' She suggests you say 'It's OK to feel nervous — that just means you care' and then support your child while they feel nervous. Eoin Houlihan, guidance counsellor with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, who works at Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School, Dublin Saying 'Don't worry, it's just a few exams' is meant to reassure, but, for the young person, it can feel dismissive and minimise what they're facing, says Houlihan. 'It could make them feel alone in their distress. Better to say 'Talk me through that. What's causing the stress?' Put the question back on them — then you're listening.' 'You're just lazy' 'The word 'lazy' attacks their character rather than addresses the behaviour obstacle,' Houlihan says. 'It's demoralising and might lead them to resent the exam and their parents. Better to say 'What are you finding difficult?'' 'If you don't do well, you'll regret it' 'Parents say this because we have hindsight around how important results can be, but we don't want to use fear as a motivator — it doesn't give them intrinsic, lasting motivation,' says Kumar. The brain responds to positive messages, so Kumar suggests parents say 'No matter what happens, we'll figure this out together'.' Counselling psychologist Dr Sheena Kumar Anton O'Mahony, Skibbereen Community School principal and president of the National Association for Principals and Deputy Principals, says focus on the moment. 'Ask 'What can you do today?' Break things down into small chunks. The small bit you learn every day all adds up, even in the last few weeks.' Lawlor, who runs Reach Guidance, which offers educational and career counselling for young people and their parents, has occasionally fallen into the trap of saying to her child, 'If you don't do well, it'll have a serious impact on your life'. 'I've realised it's better to say 'These exams are giving you the opportunity to demonstrate all the work you've done in the last few years — by showing what you've done, you're going to be rewarded'.' 'Come on, you can do it!' It counds harmless, even encouraging, but it is not helpful if your child is unmotivated to study, says Kumar. 'What's key for parents is finding out why their child isn't motivated. Is it low self-belief? Are they overwhelmed? Parents could say 'It's OK not to feel motivated — let's figure out small steps together for how you can get started'. Ask 'What is the one thing that would make study easier for you today?'' 'Shouldn't you be studying?' 'You're creating an argument immediately: 'There's something you should be doing and you're not',' says O'Mahony. 'Parents' language is important. We say things that can be misinterpreted. It's hard to get it 100% right and we can only do our best, but we really need to encourage our children. Anton O'Mahony, Skibbereen Community School principal and president of the National Association for Principals and Deputy Principal 'No matter what the question, frame it positively: 'Have you everything you need for your study? Would you a cup of tea before you start?' You're still putting study in their mind, but in a positive way.' 'Your sister studied so hard for her Leaving Cert' Avoid comparison, says O'Mahony. 'Parents can inadvertently compare. It puts your child in a space where they're not good enough. This isn't a great motivator — straightaway, they're not doing something correctly.' Focus on the child in front of you —every child is different. Remind them of their own best efforts: 'Do you remember when you worked really hard ahead of your Irish oral and you did great?' 'Focus on the effort: 'You did well today, you got a lot done, what will you do tomorrow?' 'You should have worked in Fifth year.' 'It's not helpful at this stage,' says Lawlor. 'The key thing to do is to ask 'How can I help make it easier for you? Shall I make dinner at this stage, or when would suit you?' Gemma Lawlor, guidance counsellor "Let them know you're proud of them, you're here to help, and they are loved.' 'You must have time limits on your phone until after the exams' 'Talk to them about their phone use, but the older they are the less dictatorial this should be,' says Saunders, who believes young people want to do well. 'Help them control their phone use by saying something like 'For the next three weeks, let's see if it would help to change the notification settings on your most-used apps, so you're not constantly getting alerts' — rather than 'You must do this'. 'Tell me again what you got in maths in the mocks' Saunders recommends not getting bogged down in pre-exam results. It is dispiriting, but true, he says, that students often don't learn from mistakes they made in the mock exams. 'A geography student runs out of time in the pre-exam and doesn't get the last question started and drops a grade — that same student could make the same error in the Leaving Cert. You have to help them learn from their mistakes.' Ask your child: 'Based on your mocks in this subject, what did you learn from it that would help you tomorrow?' 'We got the electricity bill and it's shocking' Lawlor says our job as parents when young people are preparing for exams — and during the exams — is to keep stresses that are not theirs out of their orbit. 'If you're stressed with your partner, or had an awful day at work, don't load your child with worries that aren't theirs. They don't need anything extra — except support, love, calmness.' 'Just study, don't worry about anything else' Houlihan says this disregards social needs, physical wellbeing, and emotional health. 'That whole balance — including taking breaks — is crucial for effective learning. Some people think 'I'm going to pull back on my sports, my hobbies'. That might work for some, but not always. I didn't give up part-time working when I was doing exams — it's what kept me going. 'Say to your child 'Let's take a break — what would help you recharge?' Read More Why you should think twice before posting photos and videos of kids on social media
Fox News
17-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Swapping Snickers for Salads: How Farmer's Fridge Revolutionized Vending Machines
Imagine driving over 1,000 miles each week for work, surviving on nothing but gas station snacks and fast food from whatever drive-thru happened to be nearby. For traveling salesman Luke Saunders, that was often his reality. But rather than accept it as his new normal, he saw an opportunity: What if healthy food could be just as quick, affordable, and accessible as grabbing a bag of M&Ms from a vending machine? After months of planning and plenty of trial and error, that idea became Farmer's Fridge. Today, Luke shares the challenges he faced figuring out how to store fresh salads, parfaits, and sandwiches in refrigerated vending machines–and why it was all worth it now that Farmer's Fridge is in over 2,000 locations nationwide, including major airports, hospitals, and universities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
