Growing up in rural Ireland Mary-Theresa faced many challenges in her life. With an elderly father and a mother who had mental health issues, she had to take on a lot of responsibilities from a very young age. Being an only child, she often had to act like a parent herself.
School was very difficult for Mary-Theresa. She was bullied terribly and suffered from harsh physical punishments from teachers. Eventually she developed a stammer as a result of this difficult environment.
“The bullying in national school was horrific as was the extreme corporal punishment. I had no one to fight my corner and every school day was hell on earth. I developed a stammer from all of this”
When she was still in school, Mary-Theresa’s father was diagnosed with cancer. Despite being a young girl, she had to take on the responsibility of most of the work in her home. She dreamed of a better future with a good job, but it seemed to be far out of her reach.
“I wanted to work after leaving school. I tried to, and I dreamed about travelling but I was told that my duty was to my mother.”
Mary-Theresa spent most of her life caring for her mother. Eventually she was able to get her mother into a nursing home and at the age of 46, she was accepted into the Access Programme at Trinity College, Dublin. She earned a degree in Sociology and Social Policy, and then went on to study Journalism at the Technological University of Dublin.
But despite her academic success, she still lacked confidence. After finishing her studies she hoped to find a job, but her husband was diagnosed with cancer and she found herself again having to take on the role of caregiver. It seemed like the opportunity to build her own career was continually out of her grasp.
When COVID-19 hit, she saw an opportunity to work remotely. She discovered Grow Remote online and decided to take a leap of faith and join the Remote Work Ready training programme.
“I really enjoyed the Remote Work Ready training. I found the people on the course very friendly and the facilitator was excellent. It helped to increase my confidence and gave me the courage to apply for remote jobs”.
Feeling more confident, Mary-Theresa applied for a job as a Content and Research Analyst. She was nervous, but felt that her experience on the Remote Work Ready course had given her the courage to try something challenging.
“I had a Zoom interview and that terrified me, but I got the job. The role was a temporary one that was only supposed to last 3 months, but it was extended to six”.
Being able to work remotely has been a huge advantage for Mary-Theresa, allowing her to stay at home while also being able to find interesting work that fits with her needs. Now, as she approaches her 68th birthday, she is looking for another part-time remote job. Although such jobs can be hard to find and she worries that some employers might see her age as a disadvantage, she is hopeful. In the meantime, she keeps herself busy by writing and has just finished writing a novel.
Mary-Theresa’s journey shows incredible resilience and strength in the face of a lifetime of challenges.
For many people finding a remote job might seem impossible and they don’t even know where to start. But Mary-Theresa’s story shows that with extra support and guidance, it is possible to find the courage and confidence to go for it.
If you would like to gain the confidence and skills you need to find a remote job, join our fully-funded Remote Work Ready Programme – https://growremote.ie/remote-work-ready
