My year group joined Bradfield in 2020. I was mortifyingly embarrassed as my mum stood outside Faulkner’s crying her eyes out as her oldest child was moving further from home. However, fortunately for her, 60 days later we were sent home again for four and a half months due to the second Covid lockdown. This meant that when we returned we were in small bubbles, we had a one-way system and we had to isolate with our roommates on multiple occasions.
Covid not only highlighted how we had taken our everyday life for granted, but also limited the choice on who we were able to spend our time with and exposed the benefits of being open minded and creating relationships with people who you wouldn’t normally consider to be ‘your type of person’. Most of my closest friends now are people who are nothing like me. Bradfield has fostered this sense of individuality and confidence in oneself to allow people to excel in whatever they decide and to feel comfortable in themselves. I cannot put into words how grateful I am for the education both academically and socially that Bradfield has provided for me. It’s only apparent to appreciate this fully when you’re one of the Leavers sitting in Greeker today.
There are obviously a few others who have had a particularly big impact on me. Starting with my family who have not only provided me with the extreme privilege of attending a school like this but have also supported me every step of the way. My Dad is probably the kindest man I have ever met who puts up with my mother and I who are both extremely high maintenance and expensive people. For those of you that know her well my mother is a consistently caring woman who inspires me constantly. Then there is my brother, who despite his ability to keep me humble and teach me the art of patience, he has had arguably the biggest impact on me and he is an annoyingly impressive individual.
My family recently attended the London Marathon to support my mother who inspired us all with her determination and resilience in her first, but admittedly probably her last running event. However, whilst standing within the crowds, the influence of support and external motivation became very apparent. I watched people at the top end striving for records and those further back, who were pushing for their own personal goals, equally as impressive. In both scenarios the crowds overwhelmingly supportive atmosphere undoubtedly pushed them to their very best.
It became clear to me that this influence of supporters was not just applicable for marathons. Everyone requires people encouraging them on from the sideline, in order to maximise their potential, in every walk of life.
