“I have really enjoyed my time at Sevenoaks and will cherish it for years to come. It is rightly named a transformational bursary as it has exposed me to an entirely new environment, that I thought only existed on television, and has allowed me to flourish.”
I joined Sevenoaks as a boarder in the IC through the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation, having grown up in foster care. The opportunity has genuinely changed my life.
My time at Sevenoaks has helped me grow enormously, both academically and personally, because of the amazing teachers and the approach to learning. There are so many opportunities available inside and outside the classroom compared with my previous school. Smaller class sizes have made a real difference to carrying out individual practicals rather than learning in large groups, and I’ve been able to develop research skills and benefit from studying with friends after lessons.
Transitioning to Sevenoaks for the Sixth Form was not without some challenges. I had to adapt to an environment where learning and academia are taken very seriously and studying for the IB Diploma has been demanding at times. But I know that all the challenges have strengthened my resilience and given me the confidence to overcome them. The truth is, I had never heard of the IB before my interview at Sevenoaks which makes my IB results even more rewarding.
A key figure throughout my journey has been my Boarding House Master. His support, understanding and encouragement helped me see that my personal circumstances don’t define my future and he gave me the confidence and determination to believe that I can achieve great things in life. My ambition is to be a dermatologist and I am very happy to have secured a place at university to study Medicine. I am incredibly grateful for the extra higher education support from the Sevenoaks School Foundation as there is generally limited finance available for low-income students.
I have really enjoyed my time at Sevenoaks and will cherish it for years to come. It is rightly named a transformational bursary as it has exposed me to an entirely new environment, that I thought only existed on television, and has allowed me to flourish.