4 minute read
Ready for the Next Adventure
As always at this time of the year, we say goodbye to our Year 13 cohort who leave us for their next adventure. Most will be heading to university, ready to embrace a new lifestyle and enjoy everything the next chapter has to offer. Whatever their plans, we wish them all the very best and hope they immerse themselves in all opportunities which come their way. We asked Cydnee and Owain to share some of their fond memories…
CYDNEE HOWARD YEAR 13
DESC has, undoubtedly, been a defining feature in my growth towards adulthood. The sheer amount of time spent on campus, on top of the level of close engagement with my learning, meant that I can credit a large part of the person I am today with my education. Moving onto university, I will miss the security blanket of the teachers and staff who I trust and know will be able to help me no matter what. I will also miss our amazing Sixth Form Centre, which was such a phenomenal spot for students to study, eat, and socialise, and that we were truly lucky to have.
DESC has taught me not only to be resilient, but to strive to be better. The endless constructive criticism from teachers meant that my work was constantly improving across the board. The sense of satisfaction from a job well done was instilled in me from Year 7, and this academic drive encouraged me to develop healthy study habits for all my subjects and allowed me to adapt my methods to better suit my needs.
Moving onwards to university, where I hope to study Theatre and Performance Studies at Warwick University, I carry with me the legacy of a student who has completed her entire education at one school. With that comes skills in adaptability – for example, changing friendship groups as others left and joined, and a solid foundation of my identity and who I want to be. My dream is to become an actress, and the outstanding Performing Arts department at DESC has equipped me with the critical thinking and devising skills needed in order to succeed in my desired career path. With these skills, I look forward to my life at university as an opportunity to excel and develop, not only as an actress but as a member of society. I look forward to where the future takes me, and I hope to do DESC proud in my career.
OWAIN GREEN YEAR 13
The first thing anyone ever notices about DESC is its vibrant student body and one thing which struck me when I first arrived was the diversity within the College. Every student has a different tale to tell and both students and staff come from a range of different backgrounds. Joining the College in Year 7 was daunting, but I still vividly remember my first day at DESC and talking to older students who provided a warm welcome and who had already integrated into the school culture. As I prepare for a new experience as a student at Tokyo University, I believe that the unique education provided by the “DESC experience” is what pushed me to pursue a rather unusual university location.
The thing I have enjoyed most at DESC is the House system. I have been involved in House Leadership for over half of my school career. I still fondly remember the Sports Days which were hosted in Sports City – the long journey early in the morning to get there and the stadium which was hugely exciting for a giddy Year 8 student; my friends and I always went right to the back of the stairs to chant for Sky House at the top of our lungs. Perhaps one of the best moments during a Sports Day was when I tripped in the relay; pretty traumatic in theory for a young student just starting to enjoy his school life, but what I always remember is the support I received from the crowd. I picked myself up after my fall and everyone was chanting for me, despite the fact that I was so far behind it was impossible to win. To somehow have come third in that race was a testament to the House spirit and sense of community which students at DESC really embrace. And of course, I managed to make it into the leader photo, which has now been used in every House leader assembly I have attended, much to my embarrassment. Our Head of House, Mr Foster and our Deputy, Miss McNamee, have been brilliant role models for students in Sky House, always encouraging us to be involved in House events and teaching us how to collaborate to create the best community spirit.
As I move to the independence of university life, I will particularly miss my teachers at DESC. The passion, expertise and knowledge of teachers such as Mrs Lee have inspired me to pursue a Geographybased course. At A Level, I have enjoyed lessons with inspirational teachers such as Mrs Sturt, Ms Davies, Mr Oakley and Mrs Page, who have furthered my passion for learning and pushed me to develop my abilities and independence. For me, gaining a place at Tokyo University is a testament to the teaching ability of all of my DESC teachers. I will have a little cry when I head to the airport this summer, leaving a brilliant school in Dubai behind but excited to pursue new opportunities.
