We recently caught up with Garden Design Academy of Ireland graduate, Fionnuala Carroll, to find out more about her success since completing the Postgraduate Diploma course.
"I'm so delighted that I got the opportunity to do this course", enthuses Fionnuala. "For a long while I knew I wanted a new career, and to think that this is now my new career, that I've actually achieved it. I'm so happy with my achievements."
Choosing to study and finding the time
Having been a stay-at-home mum for a number of years, Fionnuala felt the time was right to follow her passion for garden design by pursuing a qualification in it.
She was determined to make the course fit around family life. “Dinners still needed to be made, school pick-ups still needed to be done. So it was essential that I carved out adequate time to do this course”, she says.
Early on in the course Fionnuala knew she needed to adopt a study structure that would work for her. “I decided to submit an assignment every two weeks. I gave myself a week to 10 days to work on an assignment. Then I had a few days off before being issued the next one.”
This, she says, was a good way to discipline herself. “And I still use the same structure now when working with clients.”
What made the Garden Design Academy of Ireland so attractive?
Fionnuala was recommended the course by a friend. “She knew I was looking for a course specifically about garden design and when I looked into it I really liked the topics covered in the course.”
“Also, having three years to complete the course was very attractive as I didn’t really know what the reality of juggling family life with studying was going to be.”
Photo courtesy Windy Acre Designs
Rising to the challenges
“For me, studying from home made it a bit more challenging but I think the passion and the love I had for the course material kept me focused and motivated”, explains Fionnuala.
While each assignment also brought a new challenge, Fionnuala says that she learned so much from one assignment to the next.
“The support I received from my outstanding tutor was crucial. The inspiration, the motivation and the great feedback on assignments was so important to me. I used to look forward to getting the feedback, to seeing what I could learn from the constructive criticism. It was always objective and positive”.
How did the course prepare her for being a garden designer?
“All of the assignments, whether it was about soil PH, soil texture, plant structure, water features, taught me so much and I now use what I learned all the time”, explains Fionnuala. “Doing each assignment means I clearly remember what I learned and I use that information every day.”
Fionnuala found the business unit of the Postgraduate Diploma extremely beneficial. “I’m now very mindful of keeping track of my outgoings and holding on to receipts”, she says. “I set up my own website, started a Facebook page and I do regular flyer drops. I also became a member of the local Chamber of Commerce which has really helped my business.” All of these, she says, were tips that she got from doing her business assignments.
Photo courtesy Windy Acre Designs
Would she recommend the course to someone thinking about garden design?
“I would definitely recommend it”, encourages Fionnuala, “the course is fabulous. Once you get into it, there is this sense of excitement. It gives you great confidence. It’s one of the best thing I’ve ever done.”
Fionnuala emphasises how you do need to be motivated to see it through. “My passion and love for garden design kept me focused. And the excitement about what I was going to learn next.”
“I loved my course and I miss it now”, laments Fionnuala “but there comes a time when you just have to get out there and put into action what you’ve learned.”
Fionnuala Carroll (pictured right) and the Kells Bay Gardens Team at Chelsea Flower Show (photo courtesy Windy Acre Designs)
Since graduating
As soon as Fionnuala finished her course, she immediately opened her own business and has been working as a garden designer ever since.
“I've been working as a garden designer for the last number of years so I’m very happy about that”, she says “and it’s getting busier all the time. It’s all because of doing the course.”
Fionnuala also assisted Silver Gilt winner Kells Bay Gardens in the Great Pavilion at Chelsea. This, she says, opened up a huge other world to her. “I never would have considered getting involved in something like this if I hadn’t done the course. And I’d love to do more of it.”
“There’s so much potential for what I can do and areas I can get involved in”, says an enthusiastic Fionnuala. “I’m delighted, I love my job.”
You can find out more about Fionnuala and her garden design work on her website www.windyacredesigns.com.
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