Lucy Henderson Year 13 Deputy Head Girl

Lucy joined us last year from Tanfield Comprehensive School in County Durham. She holds the Reece Award, a Sixth Form bursary funded by the Reece Foundation for pupils who intend to pursue a career in STEM. She is a very active member of our school community and is Deputy Head Girl on the pupil leadership team, with particular responsibility for mental health issues and hidden disabilities.

NHSG has made me more independent and self-motived. It has changed the way I perceive myself and the world – I always thought I couldn’t do certain things because of where I come from, but here I am surrounded by people from different backgrounds, all succeeding and showing me that I can do anything.

I used to have social anxiety very badly before coming to NHSG – on my first day, I was terrified and ended up crying. I was treated with such kindness and understanding that I felt welcomed and like I belonged from day one.

I want to go to university (Oxbridge, Bath, Edinburgh or Imperial) to study either Theoretical Physics, Computer Science, Astrophysics or Engineering – and ideally to a Masters level. After that, I would really like to become a quantum computing engineer at the National Quantum Computing Centre that is going to open in 2023.

Advice I would have liked to give myself before starting at NHSG: There is nothing to be scared ofyou will make friends for life and be accepted properly, so there’s no need to be afraid of not fitting in.

Advice I would like to give to other girls considering applying for a bursary: Please, please 100000% go for it!

What would you like to say to anyone that has given or is considering giving to the NHSG bursary fund?

Thank you for the new life you have given me. I feel like I’m where I belong, and it’s like I’m an entirely different girl – I’m happy, taking advantage of all the opportunities you have given me, and I have so many friends!

Your kindness has changed my world, and I’ll always be grateful for it every single day.