Welcome!
Hi everyone! My name is Colleen Fessler, living the ripe age of 22, and I am originally from a western suburb of Chicago called Batavia, IL. Born and bred in this town of about 26,000 people I had the superb experience of growing up just on the edge of the cornfields but only a train ride away from the big windy city. Loving mother and father Julie and Ron somehow managed to raise my younger sister Kelly (20 years old) and I to become the people we are today, so it would only be just to give a huge shout out to them for the continuous love, support (emotional and financial), and guidance over the years. I currently reside in the superb city of Milwaukee, WI and will be finishing up my last semester at Marquette University in the fall of 2015.
At the wee age of 3 years old, I had enough gusto to constantly beg my mother to sign me up for Irish dance lessons after seeing Michael Flatley's Lord of The Dance. Lucky for me, she listened. And the rest was history. I Irish danced competitively from age 3 to about 18 up until I went to college, first dancing with the Foy School of Irish Dance before transferring to the Mayer School of Irish Dance. I got to travel to countless different cities, states, and even countries for regional feises, Oireachtas, and Nationals - yet, I was never financially able to make it across the pond to Ireland. I so gratefully blame this amazing time in my life of countless years of exposure and immersion into my Irish culture and heritage for turning me into the Irish historical, cultural, and overall enthusiast I am today.
My time as an undergraduate student at Marquette University has led me to pursue my intrigue in Irish affairs in an academic setting. Things really started to come full circle when I was introduced to the Saint Patrick's Centre of Northern Ireland's Young Ambassador program, and even more so when I was selected to represent the program this summer in 2015 meaning I would finally be sent to Ireland! The 5 other chosen Young Ambassadors and I depart from various locations across the U.S. on July 3rd, representing the different Friends of Saint Patrick branches (I will be representing Milwaukee), and end our travels with the program on July 17th. This blog will outline my travels throughout Northern Ireland and my experiences with new friends and colleagues, locals, and the other Young Ambassadors of which is sure to be a grand time. I'm all too excited for what's ahead - so thanks in advance for following my travels and reflections in the coming weeks!
At the wee age of 3 years old, I had enough gusto to constantly beg my mother to sign me up for Irish dance lessons after seeing Michael Flatley's Lord of The Dance. Lucky for me, she listened. And the rest was history. I Irish danced competitively from age 3 to about 18 up until I went to college, first dancing with the Foy School of Irish Dance before transferring to the Mayer School of Irish Dance. I got to travel to countless different cities, states, and even countries for regional feises, Oireachtas, and Nationals - yet, I was never financially able to make it across the pond to Ireland. I so gratefully blame this amazing time in my life of countless years of exposure and immersion into my Irish culture and heritage for turning me into the Irish historical, cultural, and overall enthusiast I am today.
My time as an undergraduate student at Marquette University has led me to pursue my intrigue in Irish affairs in an academic setting. Things really started to come full circle when I was introduced to the Saint Patrick's Centre of Northern Ireland's Young Ambassador program, and even more so when I was selected to represent the program this summer in 2015 meaning I would finally be sent to Ireland! The 5 other chosen Young Ambassadors and I depart from various locations across the U.S. on July 3rd, representing the different Friends of Saint Patrick branches (I will be representing Milwaukee), and end our travels with the program on July 17th. This blog will outline my travels throughout Northern Ireland and my experiences with new friends and colleagues, locals, and the other Young Ambassadors of which is sure to be a grand time. I'm all too excited for what's ahead - so thanks in advance for following my travels and reflections in the coming weeks!