Despite a passion to follow a career at sea, 19-year-old Karen Ryan had anticipated her fresher year at the Cork Institute of Technology with some apprehension.

It meant saying goodbye to her friends at Saint Paul's Community School in Waterford and leaving home to study in a different city. She also knew before enrolling at Cork IT's nautical studies department that she would be one of only four females in a class of 28.

In the event, she need not have worried. "Cork IT is a huge campus and a very confusing complex at first sight. But everyone was very helpful and there was an introductory session before we started attending lectures so that made things easy from the start. "One of my worries was that the classes would be huge compared to what I was used to at St Paul's but in fact the class sizes are very similar and that was helpful as well in making the transition. And being one of four women in the class hasn't caused any problem at all. The lads are great and we all help one another. We have coffee breaks and lunch together and sometimes we socialise in the evenings," she says.

Moving to Cork meant finding accommodation and, luckily, Karen says, she has moved in with a family in the Bishopstown area, within walking distance of the institute. "I was fortunate enough to find a really friendly family and they have made me feel very much at home. We have meals together and I watch television with them at night. In a way, it's a home from home for me and I'm very happy here. "Another girl in my class is about to move in with me which is great. I must say things have worked out well."

A great-great-grandfather and a granduncle as well as a cousin who is in the US navy are the only links with the sea that Karen can establish in her family; certainly, her parents, Mary and Raymond Ryan of Slieverue in Co Waterford, had none. "My parents have been great and have given me every possible encouragement and of course they're paying the bills while I'm in Cork.

"I don't have any brothers or sisters so I suppose I'm getting all the attention. It costs £55 to stay in Cork Monday to Friday and £10 return to travel home at the weekends, then during the week I suppose lunches would cost another £20, so between one thing and another, it mounts up. Books have to be bought as well - one of them alone cost £50 - but at least I'll still be using it in my second year."

From an early age, Karen was involved in sailing and rowing and always had a love of the sea. She long felt that, if possible, she would make a career out of the sea. Having completed the Leaving Certificate two years ago, she then joined the FCA because at the time, Slua Muiri, the corresponding navy wing of the armed forces, was not taking in women.

But that all changed and she was able to transfer to the Slua and then to the Navy proper where she spent the past year, first as a cadet in training at the Curragh for three months and then at the naval headquarters in Haulbowline.

For the remainder of this year, Karen will study subjects including navigation, meterology, ship construction, seamanship, signals and communications and will sail regularly on the Killarney, the training vessel used by the nautical studies department. One such training stint will take place today in Cork Harbour.

If all goes well, she will join a shipping company next year, spending 12 months at sea during which she will be immersed in all facets of life and work on board ship. "I'm really looking forward to that. I have no idea as of yet where I will be placed, it might even be a research vessel but it doesn't matter, it's a great opportunity." After that, terra firma will beckon again and her final year at Cork IT. "It's what I've always wanted so the plan is to work hard and succeed. Eventually, I hope to do my master's certificate - and some day, who knows, I may command my own vessel.

"I suppose everyone is apprehensive coming to a new place and not knowing anybody. But the minute I arrived I could feel this sort of electric atmosphere on campus and everything seemed to slot into place. CIT is the only place in Ireland doing this course so I had no choice but to come to Cork. You have to have belief in yourself and if you really want to make it you will."