This week, we’re excited to introduce Caroline M, who is Head Girl and Senior Mentor.

We caught up with her to reflect on her experiences, growth, and her role as a Senior Mentor.

Tell us about yourself... 

Hi, I'm Caroline and I study Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Geography. I’m hoping to take either Economics and Geography as a joint degree, or straight Geography at University. When I’m not in class you can usually find me on the Netball court!

Have you ever taken on a leadership role in school, and what did you learn from that experience? 

By far my biggest leadership role in the school is as Head Girl. To lead is to continually learn and adapt, so my answer to this question changes every week. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that a leader isn’t the one who speaks the most, it’s the one who listens the most. Being a Senior Monitor has also made me appreciate all the work the staff put in behind the scenes to keep the Foundation running flawlessly.

Are you involved in any school clubs or societies? What do you enjoy most about them? 

My favourite club I’m part of is the Girls 1st VII Netball Team. Not only is netball an excellent way for me to recharge mentally after a long day of studying, but it also helps me stay physically fit. But by far the best thing about Netball is all the friendships I’ve made - regardless of whether you’re on the U14 C’s or the 1st’s (I’ve been on both!) the connections you make through sport are priceless, and I would encourage anyone who hasn’t already to join a sports team!

What is your favourite subject? 

I’d have to say Geography. It’s the subject where I learn the most about the world, from international disaster management to the rise of China. Whenever I look at the news there’s always an article that relates to what I’m learning in Geography and that’s incredible! I’m not only studying the past and present, I’m studying the future too, which makes it such a dynamic and engaging subject.

Who is someone you look up to, and what do you admire about them? 

I know it's cliche, but my parents.

My mum is a hard worker, more than that, she’s a hustler. I admire her ambition, drive, and determination, especially because she works in a male dominated industry. I admire my dad’s level headedness - and his sense of humor! He has this phrase ‘Whatever happens tomorrow you’ll still go to sleep in your bed’. It really helps me put all my worries into perspective and calms me down when I’m feeling upset.

If you could give one piece of advice to younger pupils in school, what would it be? 

It’s ok to fail.

Coming up through the foundation with an academic scholarship at Belmont, four Subjects Scholarships in the Lower school and now having Scholarships in Geography and Math in the Sixth Form, I really struggled with the idea of failure when I felt like I had to be academically perfect. In reality, failure has taught me more than success ever could: the importance of resilience, hard work and having the courage to try again. 

How can younger pupils stay motivated, especially when school gets tough?

One thing I do when I’m overwhelmed is to write out a list of everything that I need to do or is bothering me. It feels so much better once I have everything down on paper and gives me the motivation to start rather than just sit paralysed with worry. Another thing is to have a creative outlet - for me that's sketching! After studying or when I’m feeling drained, turning on the creative side of my brain really helps me relax. Meaningful rest like this helps me refocus and stay motivated, especially if school is getting stressful.