Transition Year – Personal Statement
Thank you for spending the time to read my personal statement – Ali MC Donagh
- The reasons why I want to do TY:
- From a young age the only reason I was excited about secondary school was, transition year. I remember attending the musicals while I was in national school and thought ‘I want to do that’. From the very first second I was in first year I was already looking forward to going on work experience, possibly participating in the musical and going on trips with my friends. Now I’m at the point where I need to make a decision. Do I want to proceed to fifth year or do TY? I never thought that I’d rethink TY, but I did. I got an appointment with Ms. Lyons and we discussed how I could benefit. Afterwards I was certain that I would do TY.
- Like a lot of people I’d be too young in 5th year. I’m mentally not prepared to finish my junior cert. and immediately go into 5th year when I’ll be told I’m sitting my leaving cert. in a years’ time. I need this year to work on my core subjects definitely. I struggle with maths so I’d like to take the time in TY to practice so I can improve. Actually I would like to improve on every subject. I’m aware that we still have class and get homework so I wouldn’t forget information that I’ve previously learnt.
- I’m a shy and quiet person, which is a characteristic I’m not pleased about. I hope that this year will bring me out of my shell and encourage me to get out there and try new things. There are probably people in my year that I have never had a conversation with, during TY I’d like to get to know more people. I have my close friends but I’d still like to expand my friendships.
- My overall aims for the year:
- As I said above I am a quiet person. At the end of the year I wish to have become more outgoing and to escape my comfort zone. I hope that TY will boost my confidence, and make me less of afraid of standing in front of a group of people. I get anxious when I have to talk out loud in class; this is something I wish to overcome so I can become more confident and assertive with myself.
- When I go to work experience I hope to find a job which I can pursue throughout the school year and summer so I will be earning my own money. Being independent is very important to me, so when I’m making my own source of income I will be proud of myself as I feel I have accomplished something.
- Overall I think I am a mature person. In comparison to my fellow classmates I think I have more cop on and common sense. However by taking this extra year I would like to, mature even more. I hope that I realise that my leaving cert. is soon approaching and I need to be focused.
- My 5 objectives for the year:
- There are so many things I wish to achieve throughout my year in TY. One of them being, having more confidence in myself. I want to feel more comfortable when speaking in front of a group of people. I want to not be nervous in class if I have to read and especially I want to be able not to care what people think.
- Like I mentioned in my aims, I really hope to find a job. By doing work experience I’d like to be able to continue working there so I can earn my own money. Right now I have no source of income. If I need money I ask my parents. To be honest I don’t like doing this because it makes me feel spoilt. All my friends work for their money where as I don’t pay for my own things I just ask. Another reason I want my own money is so I can apply the skills I have learnt in business about budgets, saving etc. Because what’s the point in learning something when you don’t use practical application?
- This isn’t something to do with TY it’s just something I want to do. I really want to work on my health and fitness during the year. For my age I am extremely unfit and it’s embarrassing. Recently I took part in an 8k in my parish and I thought I needed urgent medical attention afterwards. As for my health I’m worried about it. I know all the wrong and right things to eat I just choose not to listen to them. My diet is atrocious and I really need to change it before it’s too late. I’ve tried on multiple occasions to eat healthier but then I get this sudden craving for chocolate and then my diets gone out the window. I hope during this year I can watch what I eat and take the time to have regular exercise because right now I am lacking of it.
- I want to take the opportunity of having an extra year to work on all my subjects in greater detail. Maths is the subject I struggle with the most, my goal is to do honours maths for leaving cert. but for me to achieve this I need to put in the work and effort now. It’s funny to talk about the leaving cert. when I haven’t even sat my junior cert. yet but it’s something important and I need to be ready for it and by doing TY I hope to become more aware of just how important school is for me to have the best possible future.
- Considering this won’t be an exam year I won’t be under as much pressure as I am now. I hope to spend the time finding something I love to do and work on it because right now I don’t really have a hobby. Maybe it will be on the lines of exercise so I will be accomplishing two things at once.
- Why I think I am suited to doing TY:
- I’m not a troublesome student so you won’t have to worry about me causing drama. Apart from that I hope to add some good qualities of mine to the year but these qualities I don’t really know yet and that is one of the things I wish to achieve throughout the year. I am a fairly organised person so I think that would be beneficial to the students and the teachers.
- There are so many things that go on in TY that I would like to get involved in and I think I would be suitable for them. In 2nd year I entered a project into the BT Young Scientist with one of my classmates, unfortunately we didn’t get through but it was still a worthwhile experience and that is why I would like to try and enter again during TY.
- Since I do the subject Business studies I am interested in doing the TY Enterprise competition, I think it would be a great insight in the world of business. Also I heard there is volunteering in St.Dympna’s which I would be very eager to get involved in because I have a brother with special needs. I understand what it’s like and I’d love to help out there since my brother went to school in St.Dympnas for some time.
- Overall I think I am very suited for TY and I am looking forward to hopefully participate in what seems to be a year of new learning experiences that will stand with you for life.
Thank you for spending the time to read my personal statement – Ali MC Donagh