Professor Katriona O'Sullivan

I got my council flat.

And then one day my speaker turned up at my door, found me and said, I've arranged for you to come back to school two mornings a week, a bit of childcare, just do your GCSEs.

like these people like just were like we're gonna fight for her and maybe it was because i was outgoing and beautiful or capable you know whatever maybe they did see something in me but the fact is what they did for me made it possible for me to go i'm good there's something good about me and i think we need to make people know that there's something good about them like when i train teachers now i always say to them find something good in the kids even if it's god you're really good at arguing

At least, you know, tell people they're great and tell them often and always believe in their ability.

And I always say to teachers and people working in services, if you don't believe that excellence is everywhere and potential is everywhere, get out of the job.

Leave.

Because you're going to add harm if you don't actually believe that.

So, yeah, they were amazing people.

You know, when I got into Trinity, I got in because of Miss Pickering.

So in the interview, they were asking me about English.

They asked me questions and I knew I was failing the interview.

And then they asked me about English and they said, do you like English?

And it was like he stood behind me in the room.

It was there.

And I was like, actually, I'm really good at English.

And I knew I knew I had it right.

I was like, oh, my God, I got that.

And I went out and when I got the letter, my dad was so happy.

And I rang the school to tell Mr. Pickering, to tell Arthur.

And the secretary was like, I'm really sorry, passed away.