Five jobs may help me choose

My aim was to get the most out my work experience and that meant getting a flavour of as many jobs as possible. So I did a total of five placements during the year.

They included working with a physio on the Leinster rugby team and a week in the features department at the Irish Independent.

My time at Leinster Rugby was interesting and enjoyable. I travelled to Navan with the Leinster A team and helped out at their match against Ulster.

I worked with players such as Luke Fitzgerald and Shane Horgan who were recovering from knee and foot injuries. The sports physio's work involved providing exercises and stretches to those with long-term injuries.

I was worried my lack of knowledge of car mechanics would hold me back when working with a local mechanic near my home in Dublin but I was kept busy, carrying out tasks like helping with the service of a car.

I also worked in the Avoca shop and restaurant in Co Wicklow for three days and I spent two days with my uncle, who is a civil engineer in Leitrim.

I would advise Transition Year students to organise work experience well in advance. The work placements gave me an insight into the different jobs and hopefully will steer me to the right decision when choosing a career.

Eoghan is a Transition Year student at Newpark Comprehensive.

-Irish Independent