England and Middlesex cricketer Sophia Dunkley returned to her old school, not just as a professional athlete but as an inspiration.

On Thursday 1 May 2025, Sophia (Cedars House 2011-16) returned to Mill Hill for an afternoon of memories and cricket. Her time began with a nostalgic tour of the grounds, where she had the opportunity to recount her time at school and see some of the improvements that had been made in her time away – including the Mill Hill fitness suite.

The highlight of the day came when Sophia joined the girls’ cricket scholars for their cricket training. She witnessed first hand just where cricket has come in the 10 years since she left the school, having blazed the way for other girls to follow in her footsteps.

Sophia, an all-rounder who has represented England in over 80 matches and played for Surrey, Southeast Stars, Welsh Fire, Melbourne Stars, and Gujarat Giants, started out playing cricket for the boy’s teams at Belmont, Mill Hill Prep and Mill Hill.

Speaking about her school cricket experiences, she said: “I was grateful to get the opportunity to play on the boys’ team as it hadn’t been done before and was quite new. It was a little daunting at first because I was the only girl and there weren’t any girls on the other teams I played against. But the boys I played with were supportive and nice to be around, so it was a nice group to be a part of.”

There then came an opportunity for a Q&A session with the School’s cricket scholars. When asked about the setbacks of her career, Sophia told the scholars: “I think when you fail, or you don’t do very well, that’s when you learn the most. If you have a straight-line career or everything goes well, you don’t really learn from it. So, setbacks help you learn and get better. I’ve had setbacks over the last few years, and they have helped get me to where I am now. Failure’s a good thing.”

The pupils listened intently as Sophia went on to confess her favourite playing pitches (The Oval in England and Mount Maunganui in New Zealand), her favourite subject and teacher, and how it was the offer of a bursary which opened the door for her to attend Mill Hill.

One piece of advice she gave our cricket scholars was: “Enjoy the present moment. Don’t think too far ahead. When I was younger, I used to think a lot about selection or whether I was getting runs – and if I didn’t get many, I’d get annoyed about it. I think the best thing to do is just enjoy the moment and enjoy playing cricket - especially at the age you’re at, you’re playing it for the love of it, so just keep enjoying it.”

Sophia’s visit was more than just a trip down memory lane; it was a chance to ignite new dreams and remind pupils that their goals are within reach. It highlighted how important it is to have role models, like Sophia, to inspire the next generation.

After all, she’s living proof that great things can grow from hard work, dedication and determination.