Louise O'Connor,15, Rathdown School, Glenageary, Co Dublin

MY TY WEEK:'THE HAITIAN earthquake has been heartbreaking to watch. Thousands were injured and killed, and I saw that one person had lost 27 family members. It's really important to raise money to help them and our school is making a number of efforts. We're holding a raffle, we've printed T-shirts which are on sale in the school, and we've organised a charity walk. We're also getting a speaker from the Soul of Haiti Foundation, a group of business people from Ireland who are helping to develop the country's infrastructure, from banks to fishing nets and boats.

“Charity work is a big part of Transition Year. Last year, we put on a dance show for Such (Students Unite for Children’s Health) and raised over €17,000 for Barnardos. At the moment, we’re producing the musical Guys and Dolls, with all the profits going to the Sue Ryder Foundation, which helps older people and has charity shops around Ireland. The show, which we performed with a few members of Blackrock College, was held a couple of weeks ago. We rehearsed the play over the last few months, and I was part of the mission band. Everybody in our year had the chance to act and play a part and I really enjoyed it.

“Transition Year is a time to try new classes. We’ve done jewellery-making, bridge, psychology, cookery, and lots more. We’ve also started a course in Digital Creator, a programme set up by the Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Dún Laoghaire, where we learn all about computers. Our group is making a video, about three minutes long, re-enacting some of the highlights of TY so far. There are a lot of different scenes in our short as there’s so much to include!”