Wise Words Form Elizabeth Day
At the start of March 2023, we were lucky enough to interview Elizabeth Day - author, journalist and broadcaster (and an inimitable interviewer herself…). As well as having worked as a feature writer for the Observer and writing several novels (including the Sunday Times Bestseller ‘Magpie’), in 2017 Day began the chart-topping podcast ‘How To Fail’, which seeks to explore how failure can be a constructive - and even positive - force by inviting famous figures who are generally regarded as ‘successful’ to discuss the three biggest failures of their lives. Having Day in to talk to us was a truly incredible experience. She was just as (if not more) engaged, interesting and incredibly insightful as she comes across in her writing and broadcasting. The evening was also a powerfully moving one, with immense vulnerability and trust displayed by all involved.
The key points below may be of help when Transitioning into the Sixth Form.
- There will be stuff out of your control, whether it is not getting a leadership role you wanted or simply getting double the amount of homework you usually would one week. However, it is how you react to the situation that you can control. Don't spend time thinking about what "could" have happened, but instead think about what you can do to overcome your dilemma/use the experience as a learning tool for the future
- Be flexible! Not everything is going to go the way you want it to go, especially in Sixth Form when you are starting new courses on, perhaps, new subjects. Don't make huge ambitious plans as you'll more than likely feel like a failure if it doesn't happen your way. Instead make mini goals that you can accomplish and reward yourself when you do
- Find those people that you can trust and feel vulnerable with - this is crucial as sometimes there will be those moments when your day is going rubbish, or you're upset about something outside of school life. You need those friends where you can show your vulnerability as this connects us with others who may have gone through the same experience, or who you can vent your emotions to as this can make you feel so much better and put things into perspective more; talking out loud about "failures" can allow you to look at the bigger picture.
- Words by Pheobe and Shreya.
Picture of Shreya, Elizabeth, Mrs Franklin (Head of Y12) and Pheobe on International Women's Day 2023.
Wise words from our Sixth Form Students:
Being the 'new girl' is never easy, especially as you get older. I've definitely had my fair share of moving schools, but Wimbledon High School’s induction programme has made the transition so much easier. The induction day in July enabled me to get to know all the other students, whilst helping and informing me about a-levels, I felt even more confident in choosing Wimbledon High School as my Sixth Form and was eager for the start in September.
The first days are inevitably nerve-wracking, but after having seen people I had met in July I felt immediately more at ease. Shortly after starting in September 2023, we went on a night away for a bonding experience in New Forest. The thought of going camping in the middle of nowhere, not knowing people that well yet, definitely wasn’t my favourite idea, but it ended up being such a fun night, with everyone ending up singing and dancing around the campfire together.
I would recommend Wimbledon High School to everyone, not just for their seamless induction programme, but for the continued efforts throughout the year to make you feel settled in and a part of the WHS community.
- Words by Lexi
Change
can be challenging. When moving schools, it can feel a little weird and a
little different being in a new place. You’ll have to adapt and learn a
different school layout, you may miss your friends from your old school, you
may feel anxious about meeting or talking to new people, and you might
initially feel quite tired from adjusting to your new environment. You may feel
like you don’t belong at first and that’s completely normal. I know that these
were all things that I struggled with and that’s completely okay.
My first week of school was tough. As a shy person, the thought of putting myself out there and talking to new people made me quite anxious but the Welcome Committee at WHS made me feel at home. I was assigned a buddy, who was someone that I knew I could sit at lunch with or ask questions to if I had any. Looking back, I am extremely grateful for this, as it is comforting knowing that there is someone in a school full of new faces you could go up to. Additionally, the Staff and Sixth Form team really highlighted that they were there for you if you needed.
Above all, my advice would be: try to be patient, good things take time. Whether that be a half term or a few months, things will get better.
- Words by Sophie