Inspiring the future: Jenessa Scott

This week we continue an inspiring series of interviews with local career role models who are inspiring us every day.

This week, Hayden Moore talks to Jenessa Scott, who has married her ambition and initiative with great effect, scaling the heights to become a mechanical engineer.

CAPATILISING on ambition through taking initiative is not as easy as it seems, but for Jenessa Scott, it comes naturally.

It is the marrying of that desire and ability which has brought the 23-year-old to the heights she has scaled.

Even during her time in St Thomas’ National Schools, Jenessa had the gumption to get her head down and focus on what she wanted in the future.

“I always liked school; I was that weird child that was into school,” she tells The Echo.

“I loved maths and English. I used to really apply myself because I always knew what I wanted to be – a vet.

“So, because I knew I wanted to be a vet, when I was in fourth, fifth and sixth class, I knew I had to work hard to try set that habit for when I got into secondary school.

“But for some reason, at that time, they didn’t do science in the school.

“I was wondering what am I going to do? I needed science to be a vet.

“I picked it up and tried to do it on my own, with the help of one of the teachers, but I came to the realisation that I actually just wanted to play with the animals.

“If an animal came in to the vet, I’d find it hard not to get emotionally attached and if it was hurt, I don’t think I’d be able to perform surgery or put them down. So, what do I do now?”

Jenessa Scott

After graduating from St Thomas’, the Jobstown native went down the road to attend St Aidan’s Community School.

After squashing her dream of becoming a vet, Jenessa again tried to pick up an extra subject outside of the school’s curriculum – this time with great success.

For the Leaving Certificate, Jenessa studied classical studies and when it came time to fill out her options with the Central Applications Office (CAO) for higher education, she was unsure what direction to take.

“I started to toy with different options, at different stages I was thinking I wanted to be a photographer, a journalist, a teacher,” she recalls.

“I was filling out my CAO in sixth year and I was weighing up my options, I had business and engineering if I wanted to go down that route.

“I volunteered with Citywise and people would say to me would I not get into teaching because I volunteer with kids. Yeah maybe, but I couldn’t do that every day.

“I loved classical studies, it’s the study of Greek gods, Roman studies and things like that.

“I wasn’t too sure until one day I was talking to my Year Head, Mr White, and he says ‘you should put engineering down, you’re good at it and you enjoy it’.

“I wouldn’t trust myself to build a bridge or a building, if I did, I’d be telling people to stay away from it so I was thinking is it the right fit?

“I really excelled in business you see so I wanted to try do something with that.

“I was looking through the TUD prospectus at the mechanical engineering degree and it had a good mix of business in it, so I thought ‘yeah that’s the one’.”

After graduating from St Aidan’s in 2015, Janessa embarked on a quest to achieve a Bachelor of Engineering at Technological University Dublin.

There, she faced several challenges, including one instance when she needed to develop a pin used in hip surgery for humans.

“Some parts of the course I did not like, I just couldn’t get my head around it,” Janessa explains.

“The classes in mechanical engineering are so small, so you’re able to build great friendships with the people in your class and the lecturers.

“There was one time where we had to watch a hip replacement surgery, that was tough – let me tell you, humans have… A LOT of skin.

“For an assignment we had to design a pin that goes into the hip.

“We were going through all the trials of it, trying to develop a pin then putting it through the necessary stress and strain.”

From there, Jenessa picked up the necessary skills and started to work with Irish-based international engineering and construction management company PM Group as a Mechanical Engineer.

Day-to-day, the Tallaght woman plays a key role in project management, identifying materials with different venders to supply clients.

“I really like the challenge of it,” she says.

“No project is the same, you’re working with different people and different personalities all of the time.

“You’re working with vendors and clients, and trying to balance that is very interesting and challenging.

“You’re never on a project too long, so the job is spontaneous and has great flexibility.

“I couldn’t do the 9 to 5 behind a desk five days a week”

As part of the job, Jenessa will get the opportunity to work abroad with PM Group and this is something she is building towards.

That hunger and drive to work for everything is something that was passed down to Jenessa and her four siblings by the matriarch of the family, Patricia.

The family has more than one engineer, they have two.

While Jenessa is a Mechanical Engineer, her sister Rebecca is a Commissioning, Qualification and Validation (CQV) Engineer.

“I get my drive from my family, they’ve volunteered in Citywise and grown-up doing activities there,” she says.

“I remember when I was six going up to John Keogh (former CEO of Citywise) and trying to convince him to let me join.

“I was too young so he kept saying no but I kept trying to bargain with him, and he eventually said ‘look, you can join when you’re seven’.

“So, on the day of my seventh birthday, I went straight up to Citywise and joined.

“That’s how I was brought up, you have to work hard for everything because nothing is going to be handed to you, it’s not going to be easy.

“I suppose that comes down to my mam, my mammy is great.

“She was a stay-at-home mam, raising five kids because my dad left when I was two.

“She was always very supportive of us growing up. When I was upset because I couldn’t be a vet, she sat down with me and talked through it.

“My brother has severe dyslexia but she would have always said to him that dyslexia doesn’t mean stupid.

“So he never would have let that get the better of him – she’s just so supportive.”

While she never got to pursue the vet dream and has a busy working life, Jenessa still finds the time to take care of her four dogs and hamster at home in Jobstown.

VOLUNTEER SPEAKERS REQUIRED FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE

Do you want to help local young people learn about the realities of working life, and plan for their future careers? Do you live in the South County Dublin area? ‘Inspiring the Future Ireland’ is seeking volunteer speakers from all walks of life to take part in our career talks with local schools. We are especially seeking volunteers who have taken non-traditional career paths, overcome challenges, and those working in skilled or creative roles such as electricians, carpenters, hairdressers, beauticians, writers, etc. Volunteers from all backgrounds and sectors are needed. No previous public speaking experience necessary. Volunteer for as little as 1 hour per year. Sign up now! Visit www.inspiringthefuture.ie or contact the team on inspiring@sdcpartnership.ie