u/Current-Draft5648

I’m 23, turning 24 in a month, and I’m genuinely wondering where all the students around my age are hiding.

I know UCC has a mature student community, but I feel like there’s a bit of an awkward age gap that doesn’t get talked about enough. I’m not quite in the same stage of life as someone who’s just turned 18 or 19, but I also don’t necessarily relate to mature students who are in their 30s, 40s or older.
Don’t get me wrong, I have absolutely nothing against younger or older students! I’d just love to meet more people who are in a similar stage of life to myself.

I was walking out of the Boole Library recently when a guy approached me and asked for my Snapchat. We got chatting, and it turned out he was born in 2008. As someone born in 2002, that was a bit of a reality check. 😂 It made me realise how much older I feel than some of the students around campus, even though I’m still only in my early 20s.
I think being a student in your mid-20s can sometimes feel a little isolating. You’re still young, you want to make friends, go out, attend events and enjoy university life, but you’re often at a different stage socially and personally compared to students who have just finished secondary school.

I’d genuinely love to connect with other students around 23–29, whether you’re an undergraduate, postgraduate, part-time student or returning to education. I study part time myself.

Would anyone be interested in starting a WhatsApp group chat for students in their mid-to-late 20s at UCC?

Nothing overly formal, just somewhere to chat, make friends, organise coffees, go to events together or even find someone to sit with between lectures.

Surely I’m not the only one feeling a little too old for the freshers but too young to feel like a proper adult? 😂

Hi everyone. I’m 23, a care leaver with no family backup, and I have learning disabilities. I moved into a Focus Ireland youth housing apartment in December 2024.

One of the first things I asked my housing support worker was how to set up and pay for electricity. I kept being told it was a “down the line issue”, so I thought it would be sorted later with their support. The electricity stayed on, and I didn’t understand that unpaid charges were building up. I assumed it would stop if there was a payment issue.

The first letter I received was a disconnection notice in April this year. I’ve since been told I owe over €6,000. I have had many meeting over the summer about this. This week, I got the account put in my name and the meter activated, and I’m now topping it up.

I understand PrePayPower wants its money, and I know I was using electricity. But over €6,000 for a small apartment since December 2024 feels crazy to me. I don’t understand how the amount was calculated or even how much I should be topping up each week to cover my usage and the arrears. I’m honestly confused and overwhelmed by it all.
I didn’t choose PrePayPower or even realise they were my supplier.

Now I feel stuck with them because of the debt. Focus Ireland isn’t accepting responsibility, despite my understanding that they paid around €6,000 towards the previous tenant’s arrears after he was told the same thing about electricity being a “down the line issue”.

Has anyone experienced something similar? How did you get a clear breakdown of the charges, arrange manageable repayments, or work out how much to top up each week?

Please be understanding in the comments. I’m aware that I’m an adult and have some responsibility here. But I did ask the professionals who are there to support me in youth housing, and I kept being told it could wait. I’m trying to sort it out now, and I would really appreciate practical advice as this is taking a toll on my mental health.

Hi everyone i am just wondering if you get an assessment for ADHD, Autism or other mental health issues up north are they excepted by the HSE or my DSP when applying for disability allowance?