My name is Kate O’Gorman and I am a graduate of BA World Languages, UCC. I am also a recent graduate of the MA in Translation Studies programme, UCC. During my studies so far, I have developed a great passion for languages. As well as Irish and French, which I studied to degree level, the opportunity to learn Spanish for a year has inspired me to add Spanish to my working languages on completion of my MA. I intend to do this through a combination of formal language classes and self-directed learning. The opportunity to live abroad through the Erasmus+ programme allowed me to fully immerse myself in a different language and culture. I rose to the various challenges posed, such as experiencing full-time education through a second language. Succeeding despite challenges is something I have continued to do during my studies, obvious in my completion of two degrees remotely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is also something I aspire to do in the workplace. Being quite an outgoing person, I enjoy working in team settings. The sense of achievement having attained a shared goal inspires one to work even harder and gives a great sense of fulfilment. I have experienced great success as a member of various teams, winning numerous all-Ireland titles at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann as part of various groups. Competing to such a high level has taught me how to work and succeed as part of a team, something that would be apparent in my professional career.I would like to work in a setting where I would use Irish daily. Irish culture plays a huge role in my personal life, and I would enjoy professional involvement in Irish cultural projects. I also see translation of media and public sector documents as a way to promote the Irish language, therefore this is just another area in which I would like to be involved.