A DCU student who was homeless as a child has urged her peers to support an annual charity drive.
Laura Hogan was speaking in a video to promote a 24-hour broadcast organised by the DCU Media Production Society in aid of the Peter McVerry Trust.
The Dublin student explained that she only realised she was homeless after receiving a Christmas gift box similar to one she had prepared in school for other homeless children.
Laura was in fifth class at the time, living in a shelter with her family after they lost their home.
"Most people think you become homeless through having a bad family, like your family are on drugs. [This] was not the case for me at all, which made me take a long time to realise I was homeless," she said.
"Even when it was a really rough night, staying in a car or sitting around on the streets," she added, "it still didn’t dawn on me I was actually homeless. I thought it was normal."
Now, Laura said, her life has "completely changed".
"Since then, we've come so far. My mam is my main cheerleader. Anything I do, she is just so impressed by.
"I got one of the highest [Leaving Cert] results in my schools. I got into DCU; I'm now in final year doing journalism.
"Donating to charities is so important because it helps people like me get to where I am. Now, I can actually live a normal life."
Watch the full video here:
Visit the Media Production Society's Facebook page for further details.
