World kickboxing champion Lily de la Cour has been voted female role model of the year in the Macroom school she teaches in.
WORLD kickboxing champion Lily de la Cour has been voted female role model of the year in the Macroom school she teaches in.
Lily, who teaches English at St Mary’s secondary school, won out over the likes of Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Anna Geary to be deemed her students’ most inspiring role model. Along with her dedication and commitment to her sport and teaching career, the former world and European champion was praised for her ‘modest, bubbly, enthusiastic manner coupled with her permanent smile.’
The vote was taken for the school’s Wellbeing Week which featured workshops and talks on a range of topics.
Senior students had a presentation from Michael O’Leary, a CBT practitioner, on coping mechanisms to help with anxiety, while Garda Orla Doyle spoke to juniors on internet safety.
Third, fourth, fifth and sixth year students were treated to an insightful talk by business teacher Denis Collins, who spoke of the benefits of living an alcohol-free life. He encouraged the girls to set aside a timeframe, however short, to dedicate themselves to total abstinence from drink and to consider the advantages of doing so.
The week wrapped up with a presentation by Paddy Harkin, psychotherapist and member of the HSE to third, fifth and sixth years on the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) method. This skill, like the CPR method, shows how to identify and deal with a friend who may be suicidal.
