Hi, my name is Jake Dalton and I am a student who took part in the TY programme in Tallaght Community School. During my Transition Year I signed up for the Green Schools Committee.
This was one of the highlights of my year because it was such a huge part. The Green Schools program gives the student an option to help the school become a cleaner and better place by litter picking following breaks and lunch, and collecting rubbish from the class green bins, plus the jobs constantly rotate weekly to give everyone a chance.
The committee does some incredible work throughout the year. This year our job was to promote biodiversity and try get the biodiversity flag for our school. We decided it was best to have a number of sub-committees, so the sub-committee I was part of was the Board Committee.
My committee was responsible for the design and creation of the notice board that we had on display in the corridor, this board took time to do and it was great that we had the support of teachers and staff which gave us the time to get it done. Another thing we as a sub-committee did was update the board weekly with facts and points to raise awareness and promote how important biodiversity is.
Throughout the year we as a committee ran several different contests and initiatives including a number of surveys, for example one was a senior and junior biodiversity survey to see the contrast of knowledge between the age groups, another survey we ran was about habitats and how they help different aspects of the environment.
One other thing we did was a poster competition which got many students across the school involved. Our aims were not only to get the flag for the school but we also looked to improve some other things, like the amount rubbish left around the school and encourage wildlife to be back around the school, by a task where we created bird feeders and placed them around the school's perimeter, this just scrapes the surface on some of the things we have done.
So, by the end of reading this you might say to yourself, ok so what's there to gain from it? In reality there is lots to gain, so many things you will develop and experience that will help in future life whatever path you take, whether it is in a job or whatever you aspire to do, you will need communication skills, be able to work as a team, set yourself goals, and give yourself responsibilities, the responsibility to get a task done within a specific time frame. These are all essential and you benefit in these areas greatly, among many other skills and attributes.
When your time for Transition Year comes around, I highly recommend that you get involved in everything thrown your way and don’t miss out on anything especially the Green Schools Committee because it will all shape you as a person in so many ways for both the present time and the future.
Jake Dalton