Hello, I'm Andrea R.
Hi! I'm 22 and currently living in Ranelagh, originally from Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. I'm in my final year studying History and German at Trinity. I come from a very sporty, outdoorsy family and grew up doing all kinds of activities like watersports, GAA, soccer, tennis, skiing, and hockey. I now play hockey for Muckross and tennis with my college club. I also grew up horse riding and have always loved animals — especially dogs and cats. I've been babysitting since I was 16. Every summer, I looked after a family with three little girls (ages 5 to 10) who lived on an open farm — we spent the days outside with the animals, playing and exploring. I’ve also worked as a ski instructor for three seasons (two in Argentina, one in Austria), teaching and supervising children of all ages. Right now, I work as an activity leader with Atlas Language School, where I take groups of children and adults around Dublin for their English-learning programs. All of these experiences have helped me become patient, fun, responsible, and confident when it comes to caring for kids and keeping them entertained.
My Family
I have one sister, Alex, who’s a year younger than me. We call her Boo because she loved playing peek-a-boo as a baby — it always made her laugh, and my dad thought it was adorable. She's the creative one in our family and is currently studying graphic design at NCAD. I grew up in a house near the River Blackwater with my parents, who are now separated. Our family was always happiest outdoors. An ideal day for us would start with cups of tea in bed, followed by a hike up the Knockmealdowns with all our dogs (we have four now, but over the years we’ve had nine — my favourite is our black lab, Sybil). Afterwards, we’d head to our favourite seafood restaurant for lunch or dinner, then come home to light the stove and spend the evening playing card games, watching a film, or reading. My mum is a solicitor and a huge reader — she passed that love of books on to me. When we were little, she would read to us and later with us. Our favourites were always Irish folklore stories or The Giggler Treatment by Roddy Doyle. My dad has always been our biggest cheerleader, especially when it came to sports. He never missed a training session or match — no matter the weather. In our teenage years, when my parents no longer lived together, we had au pairs. My favourite was Lara, who was from Germany. She taught us a bit of German growing up, and she’s actually the reason I decided to study it in college.
My Favourite Memory
My favourite memory is from my last ski season in Austria. I had a private client — a 62-year-old doctor from Brighton. All week, he kept saying how scared he was and that he didn’t really want to ski. I couldn’t understand it at first. I remember thinking, Why ski if you don’t want to? There are so many other things to do in the resort if you just want to enjoy time with your friends. He had come with his gym group and often spoke about his wife in the past tense, so I assumed she had passed away. As the week went on, we started to talk more. I was curious about why he kept showing up despite being so terrified, and I wanted to help him feel more comfortable. Eventually, he told me that his wife had dementia. When she was first diagnosed, they made a bucket list together of all the things they wanted to do before she declined too much — and learning to ski was one they never got to complete. After that conversation, everything made sense. We kept working together, and I realized he just needed time, lots of breaks, and someone to talk to. He needed distraction, encouragement, and steady support. I’m always happy to chat — I’ll talk the ear off anyone who’ll listen — and it helped him relax. By the end of the week, he was confidently skiing all the beginner slopes in the resort. He was so happy and proud of himself. I remember being really frustrated at the start of the week, but that experience taught me how important it is to meet people where they are, and that there's often a deeper reason behind someone’s fear. Everyone needs patience, and sometimes just a little bit of kindness to get through something hard.
My Education
I currently study History and German at Trinity College Dublin, but over the past couple of years, my interests have become more focused. I’m now majoring in Anthropology with a minor in German. I’m fascinated by how people interact and function as a society, and I hope to continue studying in the coming years — possibly in Sociology or Psychology. Outside of college, I hold a Level 3 ski instructor qualification and would love to complete my final certification in the future, when the timing is right. I'm Garda vetted and have completed the Tusla Children First course. I also have first aid training through ski instructing and will soon be completing Irish-based first aid training for my other job.
My Interests
I’ve always been curious and active, and my interests reflect that. I love sports and the outdoors — I grew up playing GAA, hockey, tennis, and doing watersports, and I still play hockey for Muckross and tennis with my college club. I’m also a big fan of sea swimming and try to get in the water year-round. I’ve completed all my sea swimming safety courses, so I know how to stay safe while enjoying it. I love to travel and explore new places, both in Ireland and abroad, and I’ve done three ski seasons as an instructor — a perfect mix of adventure, teaching, and meeting people from all over the world. I’m also passionate about understanding people and cultures, which led me to study Anthropology. In my downtime, I enjoy reading (especially anything on Irish folklore or social science), playing cards with friends and family, and spending time with animals — especially my dog, Sybil.
My Motivation
I’ve always loved working with people, and nearly all of my jobs so far have involved connection, communication, and care — whether it’s babysitting, ski instructing, or leading activity groups. Babysitting is a great fit for me, not just because it suits my schedule as a student, but because I genuinely enjoy spending time with children, helping them feel safe, entertained, and supported. I also value the sense of trust and responsibility that comes with the role. Right now, I’m hoping to save for some travel next summer, and babysitting is a flexible and meaningful way for me to work toward that goal while continuing to do something I enjoy.