Peter beats the odds to climb career ladder (From Warrington Guardian)

Peter beats the odds to climb career ladder

GETTING a foot on the first rung of the career ladder is a hard task for any graduate, but for 23-year-old Peter Geraghty it's more of a challenge than most.

Despite suffering from dyspraxia, a condition that affects hand to eye co-ordination and can cause poor handwriting and drawing abilities, Peter refused to give up on his dream.

Two years ago, against all odds, he gained an honours degree in chemistry from Huddersfield University, after being the first student with his condition to enrol for the course.

Despite lecturers' initial reservations that the condition would affect his performance in the largely practical subject, he completed his studies a year early.

This year he also completed a HND from Liverpool John Moores University in his second love - computer studies.

And now, Peter, of Mottram Close, Grappenhall, is hoping for the chance to put his skills to good use with a job as an IT technician.

Peter's mum, Marie, said: "He's very astute, very realistic - he understood that, because of his hand to eye co-ordination, his chances of getting lab work were minimal so he enrolled on the computer course as those skills are actually enhanced by the condition.

"His dad, John, and I are very proud of him and it's no surprise he's achieved so much.

"He's always been very clever and has been lucky enough to have been supported throughout his school career."

Peter said: "I'm looking for work as an IT technician at the moment just to get the chance to get my foot on the ladder but my ultimate ambition would be to combine both my computer studies and chemistry work to gain employment for a scientific organisation.

"My computer work isn't affected at all by the condition. In day to day life it means that playing sports like pool or snooker is out of the question and it might take a little longer than average for me to learn to drive, but I'm determined not to let it stand in the way of anything I want to achieve."