Artur Otchenashchenko came to Ireland while in second year in school. He joined Presentation College and quickly became a much loved member of our community. He had very little English when he arrived and he was placed into a class group of Irish teenagers like so many of his fellow peers from Ukraine. He had to make his way about the school, make friends and learn the language. Within a very short time, Artur made himself known as a kind hearted and much loved member of the school community. He was extremely keen to learn the language and be part of the social fabric of the classroom. He never shied away from full participation and used every tool at his disposal to gain a very solid grasp of Irish life in a relatively short time frame. His life has not been without difficulty and yet he has always faced each challenge with great resilience and respectfulness. He has used his unique talent in music to bring joy and awe to his peers and I’m sure it also brings Artur much peace and happiness. Artur performs on piano regularly at school events from official school celebrations to competitions and even music festivals. His incredible gift and gentlemanly disposition is an influence upon us all. More recently, Artur has also joined a youth Choir where he has sung in various competitions around the country including the National Concert Hall. While hugely capable, Artur never allows his gift to overshadow his good manners….At the end of each and every class, he takes time to thank his teacher for the lesson. We could all learn a little from Artur!
