Once the student, now the master: Kilkenny TikTok sensation makes the grade

With over ten thousand followers and 1.2 million likes on TikTok, it's safe to say that Jake Glendon has established himself as a TikTok sensation.  

The 19-year-old, who hails from Kilmanagh, has carved out a niche in the world of Irish exam preparation - offering sharp, no-nonsense study tips through short-form video clips that have struck a chord with stressed-out teens. To date, some of Jake’s most popular TikToks have racked up over 900,000 views, which speaks to the popularity of his platform.

It all began two years ago when Jake - then in his fifth year - was in the midst of preparing for his Leaving Cert. "It started as a bit of craic," Jake said. "I made a few 'day in the life' videos just showing what my Leaving Cert study days looked like. Then I threw in some biology tips and boom, it took off." 

Jake’s videos caught the attention of the platform SimpleStudy, who reached out and asked him to work for them by posting tips and advice for students on his preferred subjects: biology, business, and home economics. 

The more content Jake created, the more brands reached out to him. Another brand, StudyClix, contacted Jake and offered him a discount code to use for their website, which Jake generously offered to his own followers, so that they could avail of the reduced prices. After completing his Leaving Cert, Jake decided to take a gap year, and he began to share his own experience of the Leaving Cert through his videos. 

Jake now regularly earns money from his brand collaborations and Zoom tutorials, where he teaches biology and home economics - subjects he aced with 97% and 100% respectively. A well-performing video could net Jake between €70 and €100, depending on viewership. On a particularly busy week, he might juggle twelve Zoom tutorials and several new TikToks alongside his full-time job. "This year's Leaving Cert was manic," said Jake. "I had thousands of DMs and emails."

Jake’s fans might know him for breaking down the nitrogen cycle in 30 seconds, but many have crossed paths with him at McDonald’s Kilkenny, where he’s worked as a Customer Experience Leader for the past three years. "I’ll be working away and suddenly someone will say, 'Wait... are you the guy from TikTok?'," he said. "It happens all the time. It’s mad." 

Franchisee Chris Pim, who owns and runs McDonald’s on Hebron Road said it’s great having Jake on board. “We love the enthusiasm he has for everything he does,” said Chris. “The staff and customers love him and, of course, you can’t go wrong when you have someone as clued in as Jake on the team.” 

This September, Jake plans to start studying medical science, with an eye on a career in medical research. "I love making videos, but the goal has always been science,” he said. "Still, I’ll keep doing TikTok. There’s a real demand for simple, clear study help - and if I can make it fun, even better."