DIPLOMA JOURNEYS
Sixth Form has been very different to secondary school, and I really could not have predicted how it would have gone once the pandemic intervened. However, I am happy with what I was able to do. Studying Maths, Physics and Chemistry has definitely not been easy the whole time. There have been moments where I have been incredibly proud of myself, but also disappointed when things did not go as planned. I’ve been able to learn from the times where I haven’t done my best, and use that as fuel to drive myself to succeed in ways that surprised me. Over the summer after year 12, I worked on my Independent Research Report as part of the Global Perspectives course which is equal in UCAS points to a whole A Level. Through hours of work, and help from my mentor, Mr Elmes, I investigated the different ways in which the universe could end and achieved the highest possible distinction. Classrooms and labs are places I’ve always
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felt comfortable in, but my time in the Sixth Form has also been spent outside these. Having played hockey since year 7, it felt right to continue and join the 1st XI Team. Playing alongside my friends and those from other years, persevering through all kinds of weather and watching ourselves improve has been an unforgettable experience. I had also never expected to be RSM of the Cadet Corp. Standing as next in the line of succession to all those responsible students who had come before me was a weighty responsibility, and I am really grateful for all the help of the staff and seniors who made settling into that leadership position more comfortable. Deputy Head of School was also an important role I had the honour of fulfilling, and being part of the Prefect team has really made me feel like I’ve made the most of my time at St Dunstan’s. It is strange to think that although I have done so much to try and develop myself as a person, I still have no idea what I want to do after university. I like to try and organise things as much for myself as I can, which includes thinking ahead into the future, so not having a plan for after university may seem like a glaring problem. But, this doesn’t scare me. The memories I have made at St Dunstan’s are really important to me, and I’m sure that everything I’ve learnt and experienced will come back to help me sometime later in life. Denise Spigler
