Karl Greer

My Journey to CAO

My path to this application has not been straightforward. I have had many ups and downs that have shaped me into who I am today and have given me a level of focus I did not have at eighteen. I was born in Dublin but spent my primary school years in Valencia, Spain. Growing up between two cultures taught me early on how to adapt to new environments and thrive in most situations I have ever been in. I was above average in school, as most of it came pretty easily to me, up until I was in fifth and sixth year. While I had the aptitude, I lacked the maturity at eighteen to apply that same adaptability to my education, and I ended up performing poorly on my Leaving Certificate. After the shock of not getting what I wanted after school, I started a PLC in Digital Marketing at Whitehall College, which I did not complete. I realised Digital Marketing wasn`t close to the technical path I wanted to be on. From 2017 to 2022, I worked for Fitzers Catering. I learned discipline, organisational skills, and leadership skills in my role as a supervisor in the CCD and other venues in and outside of Dublin. After Covid, I found myself lacking direction and questioning my long-term path. I felt as if everything was getting away from me and I had missed my opportunity in life. The mental strain really caught up with me, leading to a significant decline in my mental state, where I needed to step back and focus on my mental health. It was a very troubling period for me, but I found myself again and am thankful for it. When I began to rebuild, I went back to the one thing that always made sense to me - computers. I began a period of self-directed study to close the gap between my personal interests and a professional career. Over the last year, I have earned certifications as an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and a Google Analytics professional. I have completed foundational courses in Data Analysis, Operations Management, and AI Essentials through IBM, Microsoft, Google, and LinkedIn. To put this theory into practice, I built my own PC from the motherboard up and launched this interactive CV website. I am currently enrolled in the CompTIA A+ to further solidify my hardware and networking fundamentals and skills. I am now twenty-six years old. I am no longer the student who walked away from Whitehall College. I am a person who has drive and a goal I want to reach no matter what. I have spent my time proving I have the academic stamina for a Level 8 degree. I am returning to the CAO with the fluency of my Spanish and Irish upbringing, the work ethic of my years in employment, and a genuine hunger to contribute to the fields of Data Science or Cyber Security. I want the opportunity to demonstrate the discipline, resilience, and commitment I have developed over the past couple of years.