Starting TY last August I was determined to take part in as much as I could. And I tried my best to but there is only so much you can do and things clashed with each other meaning I would have to make a decision. I would have loved to take part in the 'Junk Kouture' competition but as the deadline was so close to our variety show we knew that if we made a dress, it wouldn't have been our best work.
I really enjoyed all the trips we went on, Barcelona was my favourite part of TY, with Delphi as a close second. I feel these trips really bring people together and the year were a lot closer after these trips. I also enjoyed going on other various trips such as Knock (even though it was the morning after results), Fota Wildlife Park in Cork and going to see 'Condemned To Remember' in the Eye Cinema in Galway.
I loved taking part in the 'Lighthouse Leaders; program, helping the national school children. I was blessed to be given a really friendly, bubbly group that I actually knew from before the program began. I also enjoyed my day volunteering in St. Dympna's.
I was lucky enough to get to do 4 different work experiences. I went to Largo Foods (where I didn't get to do an awful lot), I went to Portiuncula Hospital where I took part in a work experience program with 4 other TY students, I spent 2 days in the Dáil with local TD Anne Rabitte and finally I spent a few days in Blás, a local cafe that I actually work in on the weekends.
Personally I found the hospital and the Dáil very interesting as I got to see all aspects of the hospital when in the Dáil we got to witness the vote on whether or not to have the referendum about the 8th amendment.
Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to take part in the school bank as it didn't go ahead, I also missed out on the enterprise project as it was not possible for the project to go ahead. If I were to do TY again I would definitely have planned my enterprise project better so it could go ahead.
In 3rd year when we were given the forms about deciding between TY and 5th year, I knew straight away that I wanted to do TY and there was no question about it. I'm glad to say that now that TY has come to the end, I know I made the right decision. I was not ready to get stuck into all the work required for the leaving cert and I also had no idea what I wanted to do when I finished school. Upon saying that, I still don't know but after some of my work experiences, I know what I definitely don't want to do when I'm older. But I have no regrets about doing TY and I know if I didn't do it that I would have seriously regretted it after seeing all the things we got an opportunity to do this year. Overall, I loved TY.
For anyone considering doing TY, I'd say, if you don't plan on taking part or doing anything you wouldn't normally do, then maybe they're better suited to go straight into 5th year. And to anyone who is certain they want to do TY, do everything. Don't let any opportunity slip away because you never know when you'll get another one like it. I would have never thought I'd be doing work experience in the Dáil or that I'd be chairpersoning the GAA Future Leaders program when I don't even play camogie myself. Keep up with your portfolio, don't leave it til last minute when you've forgotten everything you've done. Sign up for everything, you'll have an amazing CV after.