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I am truly honoured and forever grateful that I had the opportunity to join KES aged 13 through a Bursary Award. Despite moving from a school that is relatively close to KES, I saw huge differences between the school life and culture - changes that I never knew I needed.
I joined in September 2020, fresh out of the pandemic, where pupils at KES attended zoom calls, and my old school did not. This set my first impression of the professionalism at KES and how much academics are valued. I had missed out on a year’s worth of content due to lockdown, but my new teachers were always ready and willing to guide me and provide the extra support I required in order to catch up.
As I grow older, I realise more and more how much academic study can impact your future and the doors it opens. It provides you with a pocketful of opportunities, which otherwise you would not be able to have. I chose to study Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics for A levels (my favourite has to be Maths) so I could later pursue the challenge of a medical degree, after a much needed gap year. I believe Medicine is the perfect road for me as I have a burning desire to help people in an honourable way. Medicine also ties in well with my way of showing my care towards others, which is acts of service.
MedSOC particularly helped my desire to study Medicine grow, as I would hear speakers talk about the rewarding feeling of being a part of someone's healing journey, but also the difficulty of being some family’s only hope. Nevertheless, they always spoke with passion and pride, which attracted me, because I know I will also feel the same, and I am open to the difficulties I will have to face. I would not have been able to hear these career insights without KES, and it is not something to be taken for granted.
Aside from academics, I have also come to notice the lighter, friendlier environment that floats around the school- another big change from my old school. I saw myself become more open, extroverted, and readier to express myself. I changed from hoping I could get away with being “sick” to wanting to get to school; to see my friends, who I still am close with. We have all seen each other grow through different phases in life and we all became one big family. Events such as sports day were always fun (I managed to trip over a hurdle which was quite funny). I also went on a trip to Leeson House, as part of our A level Biology course- which was also partially funded through the bursary scheme. I spent 3 days and 2 nights with my classmates and got to see views that truly brought me a piece of mind.
I have known that Old Edwardians and other supporters have donated generously to KES, to give people like me the opportunity to grasp a brighter future and a more pleasurable school life, but I have not thus far been able to express my thanks to everyone in person, so the least I could do was work my hardest to bring the most out of the Bursary and make the most of every opportunity.
Now that I have reached the end of my KES life, everything seems bittersweet. I thank you all for blessing me with a beautiful adventure, it has been an honour to be a KES student. You open doors of light for every single pupil, and even if they do not see it now, I know they will see it soon. I know that KES has hopes to increase the number of bursary places, and so if you consider giving, please know that you will be the reason for a positive change in a young students life, just like mine.
Once again, thank you.
