Overall, I feel Transition Year was a wonderful experience for me. For the most part, it was extremely successful for me. Although at times I was left questioning if I had made the correct decision in choosing TY instead of keeping the ball rolling from the Junior Cert, reflecting now I see the number of activities I got involved in throughout the year and how much better off I am having partaken in them. From entering in out-of-school national ventures such as the BT Young Scientist and the Student Enterprise Awards, travelling overseas to Barcelona with all of my friends and making an utterly ridiculous yet brilliant short movie, I've done a lot this year.
At the beginning of the year, I filled out my Personal Statement which set a lot of goals for me to target for the year. Looking back at this statement as I type this reflection, I can say I've completed almost all of my goals. My main aim was to get involved in activities that wouldn't be possible if I didn't do TY and as mentioned above and seen in this Portfolio, I have most definitely completed that goal. Another goal was to unearth new skills and interests that I never knew I possessed before and some examples of these new skills are Video editing (from the short film project) and also being a leader/coach (from GAA Future Leaders Project.) I also feel a massive achievement for me this year was getting involved in the variety show. I never thought I would be on stage dancing and singing in front of 100's of people with my closest friends. It was a brilliant experience that I will never forget. Finally, I wanted to mature as a person and be motivate myself for 5th year. Although at times during the year it may have not seemed so, however I do feel I've grown up and matured a bit. I'm looking forward to the challenge of 5th year and more motivated than ever to get back to working in school.
Overall, I got everything out of the year that I aspired to. Even though I was forced to do some things that I had no interest in doing, I'm better off for the experience. I can take away some unforgettable memories from the year, and that alone shows the year was a success. I really enjoyed the year and it was very beneficial for me, and now I feel I'm ready to move on into 5th Year.