When I first joined Ricards in Year 7, I was very shy and not at all confident about life at secondary school and the idea of being a part of the JLT, let alone Head Girl, seemed like a faraway fantasy and something which was surely way beyond my grasp. However, tables had already turned considerably by the end of my first term, and I was awarded a tutor award for attending the most clubs in my form! This was down to the incredibly supportive team of students and staff that had ensured a smooth transition from Year 6 to Year 7 and embodied a solid and supportive community.

The wealth of clubs and opportunities afforded to me saw to a phenomenal growth in my confidence. A few of my highlights so far are definitely SMSC, DofE, Model United Nations and Merton Youth Parliament, to list a few! I was also enticed by the wide variety of sports clubs and events available to all years and keenly took part in rowing, cross-country, netball and athletics! 

I feel so fortunate to have been a part of a community that ensures the voices of every pupil are not only heard but listened to and acted on. Every student is able to express themselves and is encouraged to stand up for what they believe in shamelessly.

It is my personal goal to ensure that the girls here at Ricards feel safe and strong enough to chase after every single one of their dreams and seize every opportunity. I believe that it is imperative for younger years to constantly feel included, inspired and see role models in the JLT, just as I did. And so, as my time at Ricards draws to a close, I will stop at nothing to have every Ricards girl feel confident and empowered.