Community care? I thought that's what you got instead of prison

Before I did transition year, I thought community care was what some people got instead of a prison sentence, writes Gráinne McKnight, St Mac Dara's Community College,  Templeogue, Dublin

This year my class has been working with people with learning disabilities. I'm going to start sounding like a soppy idiot, but I love it. Every Thursday before Christmas our class worked in a centre for people with learning disabilities, in a scheme called Fast Friends.

My friend was a lovely woman named Sarah. I visited her with a classmate called Stephen. Together we went swimming or bowling or - my favourite, even though I'm a terrible singer - took part in a music circle.

At Christmas we had a concert for all the clients of the centre. I loved being with Sarah, as she was always so cheerful and nice to everyone. If another client was upset, for example, she would fuss over them and try to cheer them up. I miss her, and I plan to visit her a lot.

Since the mid-term break I have been working in a centre for children with learning disabilities. The children are extremely cute, although they can be rascals, too. In this centre I am alone with a small group of children, who keep me very busy. I work in the centre for the whole day each Thursday, and I will be working there until the end of the year.

Before I did transition year I never thought about the huge number of people with learning disabilities, and I certainly never imagined I would enjoy community care so much. It is a brilliant experience, although it can make me very sad, to the point of feeling like crying, but then Sarah gives me one of her happy smiles - and I just have to smile back.