Teen Times: It was towards the end of lunchtime last Wednesday when it happened. I went to collect my bag from the pile where they are discarded for lunch. As I bent down to pick it up, I failed to notice the gang of five lads hiding around the corner. They set upon me. I was tackled into the bags and then piled upon and, well, mauled. It was funny, really. It's the run-of-the-mill tomfoolery that goes on in your typical boys' school. It was when I had brushed myself down afterwards and collected my thoughts that it struck me.

I was going to seriously miss this kind of thing.

We all realise how important this final year in school is from a study point of view. The majority are striving towards what they want to achieve after the Leaving Cert. Many people stay in at lunchtime to get an extra hour's study in. The question of college is on everyone's lips, and the important issue of whether to stick with what you know in Galway or venture up to the big smoke, out of the reach of parents. We are all looking ahead and planning our adult lives, but we must remember to relish our final days as boys.

Once we get to college, we'll be expected to act in some way mature. Once we leave college . . . well, life is practically over. These few months are our last chance to do those stupid things we all take for granted.

When again will we get the chance to spend an entire Saturday afternoon standing in the middle of a main street chatting and, as the song goes, watching girls go by? When again will we get away with staying up late into the night discussing which of our friends has the best-looking sister. Or, if you had to lose your arms or your legs, which would it be?

When again are we going to get to live off our parents? In the working world nobody gets away with mitching with a mere telling off and extra homework.

When again are we going to get away with chasing someone around for 10 minutes with a stick for stealing a KitKat? In fact, a lot of the stuff that goes on in most boys' schools you could probably get arrested for if it were adults in public who were doing it. I'm fairly sure lobbing an apple butt at the back of someone's head would be classified as grievous bodily harm.

I understand that everyone has to grow up some time; it's a sad fact of life. I just think that we should cherish the short while we have left before it's over.

We've all been warned that time and tide wait for no man. So lads, catch this last wave while the surf's up and ride it to the shore, because once you hit dry land there is no turning back.

Eoin Cashman (17) is in his final year in St Joseph's College, Galway

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