Mr Nichols asked me to write this week’s entry for the St. Francis' College Blog as the outgoing Head Girl and I can easily say that I didn’t really know what to say, or where to start.

One year ago when I became Head Girl feels like simultaneously ten years ago and yesterday; though I think that, no matter how long ago it feels, I will always remember it as one of the best moments of my life. Not to sound like a cliché, but being Head Girl has been my dream for years. On my second day of Year 7 when I joined the College in 2016 and I saw the then Head Girl, Amy, and learnt what a ‘Head Girl’ was, I told myself that I was going to be it. No doubts. I was determined.

So committed I was, that three weeks ago when I found the old phone that I had had for several years, and in the Notes App, I came across a Year 7 Heather’s aptly titled: “Future Head Girl Speech”. Year 8, 10 and 11 Heather had also made contributions with ideas (lacklustre performance from Year 9 Heather clearly).

So I have worked for my dream and lived my dream, but what now? I suppose the dauntingly obvious answer is A Levels; preparing well, working my hardest, hopefully getting the grades I need, and then it’s off to university for Philosophy and Politics somewhere across the UK. It’s strange to think that, right now, I have no idea where I am going to end up, but it’s also very exciting. The unknown holds so many opportunities that you just can’t yet see, and your future is yours for the taking.

That’s something I learnt from my time as Head Girl. My future, my path is my own for the taking, for the shaping. When first stepping into the role, I did feel a sense of responsibility to live up to the standards of all the Head Girls I had seen go through during my time at St. Francis. The question of “will I be good enough?” circled around my head constantly for the first few weeks, until I realised that the question should never have been that. It has never been about being “good enough” to meet others’ standards, may that be those set by the Head Girls before me or my teachers, but it has always been about the question of “will I be my own Head Girl”. I mean that in the sense of, will I take the role as my own or will I allow (honestly my own) preconceived ideas of who I need to form a cloud over everything I do?

In the end, I wasn’t going to let any clouds rain on my parade.

My role as Head Girl has taught me so many things: resilience, determination, confidence. But most importantly, it has taught me that speaking out and making your presence felt is essential for your future. And not only your future, but how you see yourself. If you can’t see yourself, how can others see you?

To finish, my advice to the incoming Head Girl, to all the students of St. Francis, and to everyone reading this: be your own Head Girl. Be unapologetically you. Make your presence known, be forthright, don’t shy away from the opportunities and things you want because you are worried if you will be “good enough” or not. Catch the future in your hands and work hard to make it your own.

Strive for your dreams, because one day, they might just come true.