Natasha Smyth

I have always wanted to become a schoolteacher so I don't think that the economic boom has affected me. Judging by what I read in the newspapers and see on TV there seems to be no shortage of jobs for teachers so I think there would be plenty of opportunities for me. However, it does seem the effect of the Celtic Tiger is to cause more pressure and more competition for college leavers.

Siobhan Lynch

I think there is a lot more pressure now to study well and get more and more qualifications. The only effect on me is that, with the economy so good, prices have risen But at the moment I don't think so much in terms of making a lot of money but more about doing something I would enjoy, like media or journalism. My mother would like me to do law but I think at the end of the day whatever makes me happy.

Sheila Duncan

I have always wanted to be a primary school teacher, so, no, I don't think it affects me at all. I would like to go to St Patrick's College, in Drumcondra, and I think I would enjoy teaching and do a good job. My brother went straight to work after school and he regrets it now. Now he's studying in college at night. There is more encouragement to study now, I suppose, because there are more opportunities.

Martina Warren

I want to study religion and English at the Mater Dei Institute of Education, and probably then go on to do second- level teaching. At one stage I thought I would have liked to do accountancy because I was getting good grades in that subject. I did work experience in a firm and that changed my mind. I found the pressure and the amount of time the people had to spend working was just too much.

Amanda Eustace

I think there is more pressure now to get a job where you are going to make loads of money because it seems to be there. I want to do fashion design at NCAD so I don't think the Celtic Tiger affects me, except that, if there is more money around for people to spend on fashion, then, of course, that is a help to me. I did my fourth-year work experience in an advertising agency but I hated the extremely competitive environment.

Fiona Nolan

I want to study drama further but I feel that most of the courses available in Ireland are too theory-based. I do some classes at the Gaiety School of Acting at present. The fact that there are now four Irish TV channels and that their dramas require more and more actors is good. I think people go to plays more, too, when there is more money. I might consider doing a course in business as a fall back.