Reflections on time at School

As Tiffany awaits her A-Level results she reflects on her time at school, and what she learnt the most... which wasn't always the conventional 'learning' you would expect.

In just under a month, my secondary education will officially be over. I’ll be opening my A-level results and embarking on a new chapter in life, just like countless other students across the country and around the world. While much of our attention and energy is focused on looking ahead to the future, I’ve found it incredibly refreshing to reflect on the past seven years. Thinking about everything I’ve achieved, I realise that some of the smaller moments are the most inspiring. I still remember taking those first steps in Year 7, feeling slightly nervous in my oversized blazer. I remember team challenges and competitions, writing essays, doing research, and nurturing a love of learning that has driven me to continue my studies at university.

Most importantly, I can see the times where I’ve fallen short - moments where I let myself down or could have been more supportive to others. I reflect on some of the choices I’ve made, especially regarding my academic and extracurricular activities. For instance, I now know that my love for history could have flourished if I had pursued it at the GCSE level, despite my initial nervousness about the workload.

Even though I sometimes wonder what might have happened if I had made different decisions, I wouldn’t change anything. Instead, I’m using what I’ve learned to help me make better decisions moving forward. It’s easy to get caught up in following a prescribed program of study because your parents or friends say it’s “good” or because you think it will lead to a career. But I believe it’s more fulfilling to study what you are passionate about. Fortunately, I mostly honoured this, so I enjoyed the majority of my A-level subjects.

This leads me to another reflection: you don’t have to be the best at something to enjoy it. Further Maths was by far the most difficult subject I’ve studied, and there were times when I considered dropping it because I wasn’t achieving the results I was used to. However, I’m glad I persevered because it taught me much more than what I could learn from a textbook alone. It taught me about resilience and the importance of self-belief - having the courage to keep going even when others doubt you or don’t see what you see. It’s your duty to challenge yourself, dream, have aspirations, and take the necessary steps to achieve them.

Having a strong support system helps immensely. It’s even better when you extend this support to others and genuinely invest in their dreams and goals. Education is a collaborative process. We all play a part: teachers, friends, parents, and staff. Striving to make the most of our time, to learn as much as we can, and to explore and be curious makes us better people. Not because we know more - the more you learn, the more you realise how little you know - but because it expands our appreciation for the world and the people around us.
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Education extends beyond the classroom. Every experience is an opportunity to learn, discover, share, and synthesise information. Whether you're heading off to university or starting an apprenticeship, you'll gain invaluable knowledge from your newfound independence. For many of us, this will be our first time living away from our parents and hometowns. This experience will help you discover more about yourself - your passions, dislikes, quirks, and the things that make you unique. Embrace everything! Get involved! Seize every opportunity available to you.

I’d like to leave you with a final thought:
Never stop being curious!

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Author

Tiffany Igharoro is a sixth form student. One of her favourite pastimes is writing as it helps her organise her thoughts creatively and dynamically. She has won awards and prizes for poetry, academic and scientific writing and short stories. Recently, she won a nationwide historical essay competition that opened her eyes to the importance of how things are told, and the impact ordinary people have on the world. She studied art GCSE and believes there is something incredible about finding links between drama, art and maths.

Picture by: Clay Banks on Unsplash