Keith Cooke
Could you tell us who you are and what you do?
Hello, my name is Keith and I graduated in 1993 (BA) and again in 1999 (MA). I am currently working as a Product Specialist in financial services.
How did studying Classics at Maynooth help you to succeed beyond your degree?
When I arrived in Maynooth I had no intention to study Ancient Classics - I selected it as my final subject. Very quickly it became my major subject, and I loved the diversity of the different courses we got to study. Though I must admit to a particular interest in Old Comedy (Aristophanes). There was a feeling that, even though the things we were learning about happened so long ago, it was still relevant today.
The moving from one topic to another has helped me throughout my working life since, as no career takes a single course. There is no plan! In all of the jobs I have worked in you need to be able to adapt, to think for yourself, to work smart and to work hard – all of which I learned in Maynooth.
Any nice memories from your time at Maynooth?
There are so many to choose from. From the packed lectures in the Arts Block in 1st Year to four of us learning Ancient Greek in the Professor’s office; to setting up the Classics Society again after it had been dormant for a decade or so, and all of the fun with my fellow students and with the lecturers. There was a real feeling that we were all in it together.
And finally, I met my wife while we were both studying Ancient Classics in Maynooth – so that was obviously awesome!