After a chaotic first week in Dublin, I am finally beginning to settle in. I’ve adjusted to the time difference, feel more comfortable at my internship, and have found a routine that balances work, exercise, and fun.
My internship has been going really well. My supervisor recently assigned me to a new research project with the National Women’s Council and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland. Ireland is introducing a new auto-enrollment pension scheme that will automatically enroll individuals between the ages of 23 and 60 who earn over €20,000 into a private pension scheme. While this may sound reasonable on the surface, a significant income and pension gap already exists between men and women, so auto-enrolling individuals could further widen that disparity. As a result, women teachers, who often earn lower incomes, are likely to be disproportionately affected.
My job is to research how structural factors, such as child care responsibilities and unpaid leave, interact with recent pension reforms. This will help my supervisor and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland develop recommendations for reforming the scheme to better address the gender pension gap among teachers.
I hope to attend law school, though I’m still exploring which legal field best aligns with my interests. Gender discrimination and family law have recently stood out to me, so this research project is a great opportunity to gain deeper insight into those areas.
On a lighter note, I have been having a ton of fun exploring Ireland. Last weekend we went to Kilkenny and Wicklow, and I absolutely loved seeing the Irish countryside. My favorite part of the day trip was our time in Kilkenny. We took a guided tour of the beautiful Kilkenny Castle, and I was so fascinated to see how lavishly the Butler family lived. It made me want to get a portrait painted of myself, although that may not be as acceptable in 2025 as it was centuries ago.
Additionally, Kilkenny itself was a charming little town filled with shops and restaurants. It was refreshing to get out of the city of Dublin for a day to experience the more historic, picturesque side of Ireland. Even the bus ride there was a highlight- I loved looking out the window at the scenery and spotting animals along the way. I am still waiting for the day where I finally get to hold a sheep!
So far, I’ve been having the best time exploring Dublin with my friends, and I’m really looking forward to heading to the West Coast of Ireland this weekend!
