Tran year diary – OMG are we four weeks back already!

HAS it been four weeks since we returned to school in Presentation College Currylea, Tuam? Sometimes it feels like four months. Was it just a few months ago since we were treated as little juniors. Now everyone demands that we behave as adults. Our first real belt of reality came when we went to Killary to do the first part of our Gaisce bronze medal. The first night was great craic, games and activities and lots of fun in our bedrooms. Wednesday our second day was a different story, the sky was black when we woke up, a storm blew across Killary Harbour, the rain poured and we had no choice but to venture out in it. We spent the morning on the high ropes and the bungee swing. In the afternoon we began our kayaking lessons. At six o'clock, wet, tired and blistered we returned to base to shower and have a hot meal. The weather on Thursday was better. Three of our group decided to do hill walking and the rest of us went kayaking. Our challenge involved 15 km. It was tough. Sometimes my team mate Aoife and I got a spurt of energy and covered a kilometre quickly. We often felt like giving up but giving up was not an option. We all got there in the end â€â€ a huge achievement. The bus was very quiet on the  journey back to Tuam. Our co-ordinator Mrs Mannion insisted we all come to school the next morning. I feel our trip to Killary was a great sucess. We all bonded as a group, we had great fun and we learned not to complain and not to give up. There has been much activity in the Transition Year block since Killary. The Junior Cert results were greeted with shaking hands followed by shouts of joy. We have an enormous work load in all our academic subjects, at least two and a half hours each night. We look forward to Leaving Cert with enormous confidence. Last week also our creativity was challenged under the supervision of Catherine King. We transformed old battered hats into stylish fashion statements. We were surprised and delighted by our creations and look forward to wearing them at the fashion show on December 16. At the moment we are preparing for the Young Scientist competition, Young Social Innovators and Concern Debates. Three of our students have delved into the world of Economics and are competing in the Central Bank competition to see what student team can best come to terms with the complexities of the European Monetary System. Can you imagine â€â€ discussions around the developing countries, scientific experiments, the laws of economics, all in one classroom. Today we are preparing for the American Tea Party. With the present financial situation, we need to raise money to help fund our many activities. Now we must sign off as it is time to don our aprons, enter the kitchen and prepare some wonderful dishes for tonight â€â€ wish us luck, we won't be going to masterchef any time soon! â€â€ Jade Costello