A chance to step into the limelight

Standing in front of a crowd can induce stress, worry and anxiety. Some people keep calm by resorting to methods such as envisioning the audience in their underwear, but I thrive on attention, writes Anthony Bailly, Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee, Co Kerry

Given a chance to voice my opinion, I could speak to droves of people for hours on end. I love acting - standing in front of several hundred people who are laughing (at or with you - you can never tell), crying or sympathising. It's perfect for someone like me.

When the school announced it was doing a musical, therefore, I was up for auditions before I had time to fully comprehend that a musical involves singing. Thankfully, I already had some experience - I always knew primary-school choir would come in handy - and I roped a few friends into coming along, so I wouldn't be the only fool in the room. Surprisingly enough, I was still able to sing, four years after torturing my last choir director with my unbelievable voice, and I was given a lead part.

Fiddler on the Roof, whose film version starred Topol would now become my life. We spent countless lunchtimes working on songs, stayed after school to improve our acting and spent weekends perfecting our dance routines.

But, after everything, it all came down to four cold nights in January. I don't think anyone realised how much fun we were about to have, whether from the performance itself, from the adrenalin rush, from the excitement backstage or from the friendships and memorable moments. After all of our complaining about losing free time, we were sad when it ended. We would never sing the songs again, never say the lines again. Then again, nor would we ever forget the private jokes that made us seem like lunatics to outsiders.

Of all of transition year, there is nothing I will remember more than my Fiddler on the Roof experience. Words cannot do it justice.