I wasn’t supposed to do Transition Year (TY ), but I ended up doing it anyway. I had my mind set on getting out of school as soon as possible, and with the option of skipping TY, it seemed the most appealing choice.
I didn’t want to spend another year in school, but looking back on the year I’ve had, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made.
Transition Year is often known as the “doss year,” a year when everyone gets lazy because there’s no academic pressure or stress. However, it can become a memorable and valuable year if you put the effort into it. All you need is the right mindset to try new things, learn, and explore your options.
It could be the year you find a new hobby, realise you actually like a subject you thought you hated, or finally have the time to learn that instrument you’ve always wanted to try. This is the year where the impossible becomes possible. You’re given so many opportunities from different areas of interest, even ones you may never have considered. If you discover you hate science, you can always try law or foreign affairs instead. If you’ve wanted to do an online course or improve a skill like sketching, now is the time.
You’re also given the time to look after yourself and pursue things that require effort and commitment. You can take part in competitions such as the Stripe Young Scientist. I was accepted after four attempts and was lucky to have the time to devote to my research and my project. I wouldn’t have been able to do that in any other year where my focus was on multiple things. It was a highlight of my year, and I don’t regret it at all.
Work experience is another incredible part of TY. I gained real-world experience and learned what it would actually be like to work in certain fields. I was able to take weeks off school to explore these opportunities, which taught me more than any website or book ever could. My experiences ranged from learning about stents and medical device production to growing cancer cells and extracting their DNA. Most people only get these opportunities in college, but I was able to experience them as a 16-year-old.
After these weeks, I now know what I want to do next year, and I have alternative paths if my first plan doesn’t work out. TY isn’t just about discovering your future, it’s also about personal growth. I used this year to improve my writing by writing articles and entering competitions, hence writing this article.
TY gives you the resources, mentors, and opportunities to achieve your goals — you just have to take them. We’ve had talks and workshops ranging from flower arranging to fencing, and I’ve learned about charities like the Red Cross and COPE.
All of this has happened in just half the year, with so much more still to come. Transition Year is definitely worth it, and while it may be an extra year of school, it can be an amazing one if you make the most of it.
