MY TY WEEK:Niamh McNamee, St Mary's Secondary School, Edenderry, Co Offaly

‘Transition Year is all about new experiences. This week I volunteered in a campaign to encourage students to bring in their old and broken phones for recycling, with proceeds going to the Irish Heart Foundation.

“Every Wednesday, about 15 of us go to the Gaelscoil to play games, in the Irish language, with the Junior Infant children. The aim is to improve our Irish, and get the children to see that other people speak Irish – not just teachers in school!

“One of my best things about TY is the mini-company. Our company is Keynotes, which puts study notes on CDs for Junior Cert students and sells them within the school. We used our study notes from last year and a variety of other sources. This week we’re finishing our report for the Student Enterprise Awards.

“We’ve recently started the GAA Oral History Project. I interviewed my grandfather: he was interested in when the matches were played, who the players were, and the changes that have happened since he was small. We will compile all the information we get, along with the pictures, and have an open day.

“I’m going for the Gaisce President’s award. This involves developing a personal skill and a physical skill, and undertaking voluntary work in the community. As well as training as a lifeguard, I’ve become involved in the local St Vincent de Paul and joined the Midlands Youth Orchestra.

“There’s so much more: I’m entering science fair SciFest with a project on farm safety, and this week we’ve changed over our modular subjects. After doing bridge, health and safety, film and self-defence, we’re now ready to take on debating, road safety, Spanish and music. Transition Year has given me a chance to have these new experiences.”