Poor: Grit, courage, and the life-changing value of self-belief

As the middle of five kids growing up in dire poverty the odds were low on Katriona OSullivan making anything of her life. She became a mother at 15 and ended up homeless. Five rackety years followed - barely coping drinking to escape - until Katriona now living in her fathers native Dublin hit rock bottom. Poor is the extraordinary story - moving funny brave and sometimes startling - of how Katriona turned her life around. During her schooldays there had been teachers who looked out for her - beacons of stability in a chaotic childhood. They planted seeds of self-belief. In Dublin when she sought help she found mentors whose encouragement revived that self-belief. She got her act together got a flat and a job as a cleaner and got into Trinity College. Today Dr Katriona OSullivan is an award-winning lecturer whose work explores barriers to education. Despite her professional success and happiness in her marriage and as a loving mother Katriona lives with the indelible legacy of her early years. Her book is a stirring argument for the importance of looking out for our kids of giving them hope practical support and meaningful opportunities.