Summer celebrates making Ireland home
ARRIVING in Dundalk as a student in the early 2000’s, Summer Wu knew little about Ireland.
But in the years that followed, the young Chinese woman began to make a home in Ireland, and a lifelong career in Dundalk Institute of Technology.
Now working as the Pastoral Care and International Administrator a DkIT, she recently received Irish Citizenship at a Naturalisation Ceremony in Killarney.
The ceremony, which took place at the Killarney Convention Centre, saw 3,000 new Irish citizens from over 120 different countries granted citizenship.
Summer was welcomed to the ceremony and congratulated by Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, TD and Justice McGrath, who highlighted the new culture that Summer and the rest of the attendees bring to the island of Ireland.
Originally from China, Summer came to Ireland in the early 2000s as part of the first group of international students ever recruited by DkIT.
Speaking about arriving in Dundalk all those years ago, Summer commented: ‘Before I came here, I did not know anything about Ireland. So my dad and I did a little research. From the research we felt that Ireland was the best choice for me, as it is a small country and is a very safe place to live and study.’
‘I chose DkIT as I felt that because it was the first time DkIT was taking nonEU international students, that DkIT would look after us really well and also I would get to learn English.’
During her time as a student Summer studied the BSc Quality Management programme and upon graduating, she chose to stay in Ireland as she had met her future husband here.
‘ The best memories I have of my time studying at DkIT is that every year around January/February time, the international students get to celebrate Chinese new year, and every year the college would support us.’ She added that she loved to link with Erasmus students.
After completing her studies, Summer subsequently became a member of staff in 2007, joining the DkIT International Office Team, administering to and supporting international students in her role as Pastoral Care and International Administrator.
‘Since I have completed my studies in DkIT and now being a member of staff in the college, I have never been happier in any other jobs. I love this job as I get to help new international students that come here and hopefully show them all the best things about studying and living in Dundalk.’