That's a good question. What is the European Union doing for a young person like me? To that there are many answers. I am neither an important person nor an influential politician, yet its benefits improve my quality of life daily. Travelling, for example, is something which young people all over Europe do everyday. Yet how does the European Union assist us on our way? As I put pen to paper and begin my work, I hope to find answers to this question. Just as a man by the name of Robert Schuman yearned for a solution to brutal war and suffering six decades ago, I too proceed in my quest to explore some of the advantages of the European Union to a young person like me.

To students, school trips are often the highlight of our year. A week off school to spend in Europe is, quite simply, bliss! With excitement building for the months leading up to the adventure, it seems nothing can ruin it .... except an unfriendly ground assistant at Sam telling you that your flight has been cancelled. To us, Christmas may as well have been removed from the calendar! However, thanks to the European Union, we are entitled to compensation for our troubles. Without membership of the EU, we would be left stranded and without hope. What a bummer! However, because of the EU, we can receive compensation and hopefully plan a new trip abroad. Phew! Having an EU passport also means we can tour Europe to our hearts desire as free travel between member states is guaranteed as a European citizen. This enables young people such as me to experience the culture, music and lifestyle of other European countries. We can live and work in an EU country if we wish, no visas required! Except the plastic one used for endless shopping trips of course! Undoubtedly, being a member of the EU certainly has its benefits.

So having finally arriving at our destination after a long and grueling journey, the greatest desire of students (apart from some long overdue sleep!) is to purchase some food. However, one of the most disappointing, not to mention embarrassing, situations I could find myself in is one without money. Imagine being refused in a shop due to having the wrong currency! Extremely mortifying! Thankfully my membership of the European Union prevents this. By having a common currency, we can easily travel from one country to another and use the euro each time. So we can spend more time burning a hole in our wallets and less time worrying about having the correct currency!

When I journey abroad, I dream of clear blue skies, the radiant sun, and the glistening ocean. I, along with my classmates, do not like to be disappointed! Thankfully we aren't, thanks to the work of the European Union who continuously work to ensure that our beaches and the waters are kept clean. Their blue flag programme provides incentive for local communities to keep their seaside environment healthy and clean. This ensures I can enjoy the beach and have fun in the sea with my friends, without having to worry about pollutants in the water!

From previous experience, I know that falling ill or becoming injured outside of your own country can be daunting and uncomfortable. As the saying goes, there's no place like home! However, the European Union aims to make ordeals as pain free as possible. I know this as I ended up in hospital in France as a young child with a suspected sprained ankle. The level of care was as good as Ireland, and it was certainly a hassle-free visit! No lengthy paperwork or denial of care was involved, as the simple production of a European Health Insurance Card (formerly Elll form) assured me of swift medical attention! Another fantastic advantage to me, being a member of the EU, is the E112 medical card. This wonderful card entitles the bearer to receive free treatment for a medical condition in a different European country, if treatment is not available in a patient's own country. This brilliant scheme saves the lives of many people every year, including that of RTE correspondent Tommie Gorman, whose life was saved by the treatment he received for cancer in Sweden which was unavailable in Belgium, where he was residing at the time.

Another benefit of European membership enables us as students to study elsewhere in Europe. The EU has established the Erasmus and the Comenius programmes to enable us to spend a period of time studying in a different country in the EU to learn the language, experience the culture, and make new friends. It's an invaluable and enjoyable experience which helps young people to develop and mature while having the time of our lives! The European Union provides us with plenty for which we should be grateful; it certainly makes the lives of young people such as myself very exciting!

If there is one thing that has come to prominence from doing this essay, it is that I am extremely glad I am a citizen of the European Union! From hassle free travelling to easy spending, winding up in hospital to winding down at the beach, the European Union certainly ensures that my life is safer, easier, and hassle free. I am sincerely glad that six decades ago, Robert Schuman pursued his dream of establishing peace in Europe. Not only have I been blessed with growing up in a generation which has lived in a war-free society, I have also other invaluable rights and protection that others yearn for. In the Words of Tommie Gorman: "I want to say to people who are living in Ireland, who are citizens of the European Union: 'Look. This is what's out there, and this is what you can access, not on a grace and favour basis, but by right.

Les jeunes ensemble et l'UE entrent en avant dans l'espoir et la paix.