Something inside so strong — why Sarah is an extra special student

CONGRATULATIONS, Sarah Carroll! An A, three Bs and 2 Cs. It was a great Junior Cert by any standards, and it just goes to show that you can do everything you set your heart on.

Tue, 20 Sep, 2005 - 01:00

Fergus Finlay

Fergus Finlay is a former political activist and adviser to three governments, the former head of the children's charity Barnardos, a writer and a broadcaster.

Sarah is from Dublin. A 16-year-old, just like her peers, she had to endure the same anxious wait for her results, and wasn't able to celebrate them like her friends did because she had chickenpox when the results came out. I'm guessing her family has quite a celebration lined up when Sarah feels up to it.

There's a few reasons to celebrate. Sarah has Downs Syndrome, and that makes her one of the very few people in Ireland to have progressed, academically, as far as she has. Again, I'm guessing she has got a lot further than anyone predicted she would, except maybe those closest to her. All the more reason for them to be proud.