One very active student, Peadar Ó Lamhnaof St Macartan's College in Monaghan, tells 'Transition Times' about his experiences of TY
'YOU NEVER KNOW where the year will take you. When I started out as a TY student last September I did not think for one second that on St Patrick's Day I would be sitting in southern Ethiopia eating sacrificed goat and dancing with a tribe that would give me the friendliest welcome I would ever have received.
"TY is meant to be a break from your school books to let you try things that you would not normally get the chance to try in a normal school day. Whether this is learning a new language for the duration of the year, to building burglar alarms in electronics, TY has it all.
"I participated in many different projects. I took part in debating, which was great for improving my English communication skills, and I made loads of new friends from different schools through debating competitions. It was excellent for making you aware of different issues in the world. In my school, modules were offered for all TY students and, throughout the year, we had to choose six modules that we would like to study. There really was something for everyone.
"TY is also about foreign trips. I was in Belgium and France for a history tour in November, and then Ethiopia in March. This definitely was the highlight of my TY, and as we raised €41,000 for the people there, they will now have clean drinking water, new school buildings, new school books and will now hopefully live in better accommodation thanks to the people of Monaghan and the surrounding areas.
"Many schools in Ireland stage a musical produced by their TY group. Our school was no exception. During March I donned a dress and high heels and played the lead female in our school's production of Hot Mikado. Musicals are great for getting to know the rest of your year as, whether you're dancing together or building the set, teamwork is definitely involved.
"You may also get the chance to go on one or two weeks of work experience. I went to the Four Courts to work with a barrister on my first week, and went to be a primary-school teacher on my second. These are brilliant weeks if you are puzzled about what you want to do after college. I now know I don't ever want to be a primary-school teacher!
"If, like me, you would like a career in law, an absolute must for TY is to take part in the Mock Trial Competition in the Four Courts. I was a barrister for the day and had to defend my client in front of Justice Paul Carney, and other top judges in the country. If science is your thing you could apply for the Transition Year Physics Experience in Trinity College, or the UCD Conway Institute work experience week. Both are good for giving you an insight into what a science course would be like at third level, while making science fun at the same time. I found both these weeks very stimulating and rewarding.
"Other activities in which I was involved included Gaisce - the President's Award, Young Scientist and Young Environmentalist Competition, European Youth Parliament, school exchanges, designing a school magazine, and fundraising for different charities.
"But, remember, it's what you put into TY that you will get out of it. Enjoy yourself, it only comes around once!"
