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‘Transformative. Inspirational and Fun, just so much fun\u2019<\/em> was how Jeevan Singh (C 16 -18), former Royal National Children\u2019s Springboard Foundation (RNCSF) Scholar, summed up his Bradfield experience when I caught up with him before the festive break. He is currently in his final year at Leeds Uni where he is studying International Business prior to starting his first job, already secured, in the City of London.<\/p>\n \u2018Once you immerse yourself, you get lost in this world with almost endless potential\u2019<\/em> Jeevan eulogised about this time at Bradfield throughout our chat and was keen to explain how coming to Bradfield had enabled him to turn his life around.<\/p>\n Jeevan grew up in North London where he attended the OFSTED outstanding Gladesmore Community school. Unfortunately, he wasn\u2019t really making the most of it as his behaviour inside and outside of the classroom held him back. This all changed when his Assistant Head Teacher asked him whether he would like to go to boarding school. He remembers wondering what that even meant. Once explained, Jeevan said that his motivation soared and he started focusing on his education. He became utterly determined to be awarded a place at Bradfield, to the extent that he didn\u2019t even apply to any other colleges, and he prepared hard for his interview.<\/p>\n \u2018I mentally set aside the challenges of my socio-economic circumstance and decided that they would not dictate my life and my ability to take advantage of this opportunity.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n Asked about the impression that Jeevan made in interview, Andy Golding, Jeevan\u2019s Housemaster in Army House could see that he was ambitious, keen to make a change, and likeable, he instantly knew that he would be a great addition to the House.\u00a0\u2018<\/strong>I wanted to give him the chance that I felt he deserved, I was delighted to recommend him for a place\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n Jeevan said that having the validation of my future Housemaster was ultimately very humbling, \u2018having someone see potential in me meant so much and I felt that I owed it to him to perform<\/em>.<\/p>\n Feeling \u2018part of it\u2019 was not an instant thing. Jeevan explained that you can\u2019t underestimate the radical change that is moving to Bradfield. \u2018There was this long build-up and then I got the grades and was in, and the next thing I knew I was in West Berkshire smelling manure and living in Hogwarts.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n Having never stayed away from home he was homesick and wondered whether he\u2019d made the right decision. Goose weekend was however the turning point. It taught him what it meant to be part of a boarding house, the house spirit, the loyalty and the bond with your housemates. \u2018Goose showed me that I belonged. The shared enjoyment and sense of achievement was incredible, a great ice-breaker for the year and I was gutted that I only had two years of it.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n Bradfield has a policy of not formally naming its bursary recipients, but Jeevan was very open about his status. He felt that he received even more respect because the other boys were aware of it. \u2018I think that they were genuinely impressed and proud of me, my desire to make a change to my life, and they also wanted me to achieve.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n I asked Andy how Jeevan fitted into House life and he was quick to say that he was impressed by his dynamism and how he dealt with the many challenges of moving into an alien environment.\u00a0 He noticed that the other boys took to him and he quickly developed a tight circle of friends. \u2018His presence was refreshing in many ways and we all appreciated his different perspective.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n In developing a new Bradfield family, that is not to say that Jeevan became distanced from his own family. Jeevan\u2019s Mum is one of his biggest fans and motivators, she was delighted to see him start to take an interest in his education and was extremely supportive of his move to Bradfield. She took great pleasure in dropping him off at College whenever possible. Potentially quite an intimidating experience, Mr Golding however made them feel totally at home. \u2018He offered me outstanding pastoral support throughout my time and looking back he was the male role model that I had been missing in my life.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n More often than not Jeevan chose to board at weekends, something that in retrospect he appreciates even more. \u2018The peacefulness of the countryside and all those amazing facilities at my disposal, gym, swimming pool, and more .. these things are just not as accessible in normal life<\/em>.\u2019<\/p>\n Asked about his best moment at Bradfield, the response was instantaneous \u2018<\/em><\/strong>Becoming Head of House. It instilled a massive confidence within me that is still with me today and I felt incredibly proud to see my name on the House board.<\/em>\u2019 More than that, he enjoyed being responsible for 53 boys, advocating for them publicly as well as helping them to confront private challenges, which he felt in an almost unique position to do by virtue of his background. \u2018I felt that people found it easier to talk to me because they know that I wouldn\u2019t judge them\u2019. The impact that he was able to have both inspired and motivated him.<\/p>\n Choosing Head of House is not a decision that Andy Golding took lightly, Jeevan demonstrated that he really wanted the role, he had the respect of the boys and Andy knew that he could work with him. \u2018Army House gave Jeevan the opportunity to shine and in return, he gave us his energy, positivity, and that invaluable sense of perspective.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n The Headmaster often quotes Jeevan his speeches, when he said \u2018Bradfield hasn\u2019t just given me an education, it\u2019s taught me how to make a difference\u2019, so I asked what difference Bradfield had made to him.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bradfieldcollege.org.uk\/bradfield-for-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/www.bradfieldcollege.org_.uk\/bradfield-for-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/02\/Jeevan-front-of-tug-of-war-683x1024.jpg\")
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