Kildare arts student leaves college for career in renewable energy

As the old Irish saying goes: "What is for you won't pass you!"

Awareness of alternative pathways to education and the world of work has grown significantly in recent years, as has its popularity. 

While third-level degrees are certainly highly regarded, there is a shifting focus of employers toward traits such as adaptability, passion, critical thinking, and a willingness to learn in their talent acquisition.

EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, began the Earn and Learn programme in 2023, and one person who availed of it is Lorena Dalewska.

Lorena completed her Leaving Certificate at Luttrellstown Community College in Blanchardstown in 2021.

Originally from Poland, Lorena gained a place in Maynooth University following her exams, but found that the course was not for her.

She explained: "As a Sixth Year, I hadn’t yet figured out what I wanted to do with my life. I thought about taking a gap year, but there was a huge push from my teachers and family to go to college and so I picked the first course that sounded manageable.

"I felt very unmotivated by the content of my degree; I knew it wasn’t for me and I knew I wasn’t going to finish it, so I dropped out."

Lorena added: "I always found that the traditional college route was not really for me, but I felt I wasn’t given many other options."

Upon dropping out of Maynooth University, Lorena worked in a pharmacy as a healthcare advisor, but wanted to find something that would allow her to build a career and learn at the same time.

Lorena continued: "A friend of mine told me about the EirGrid Earn and Learn Programme soon after I had dropped out.

"While I had just recently left college, I hadn’t entirely given up on third level education, and so the programme really appealed to me."

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Now, nine months into the two-year Earn and Learn programme, Lorena is a Market Associate with the Operations team at EirGrid.

She is currently undertaking a Diploma with Griffith College and will begin a Part-Time Level 8 in Business Management in September.

According to EirGrid: "Lorena works to move Ireland towards a more renewable future. By 2030 the national electricity system must be developed to allow for 80 per cent of our electricity to come from renewable sources, as per Government climate targets."

Lorena also expressed how she wishes there were 'more programmes like this for people whose way of learning does not fit traditional university pathways.'

She elaborated: "I had very little knowledge of renewable energy and sustainability before joining EirGrid.

"The Earn and Learn Programme has allowed me to learn on the job, while also giving me financial independence and work life balance."

Lorena concluded: "I hope more programmes like this will come on stream and I’d encourage students to investigate alternative programmes rather than only considering long term study."