Why did you choose Reigate College?

I liked the feel of the campus and the wide range of courses and felt it would be good preparation for university.

How did you find the move from school to College?

I came to the College with quite a few friends from my old school, which made the transition easier. Everyone was very welcoming when I arrived, as everyone’s new, so I found it very easy to make friends in my classes.

Tell us about your experience of doing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award at College?

My favourite part of DofE was our hike in the Brecon Beacons in Wales, as I was able to spend all my time with my DofE friends.

This main expedition was very challenging. I quickly had to learn how to look after not just myself but friends in my group too. If one person starts to feel unwell or gets very tired, the whole group has to adapt to ensure the situation doesn’t get worse.

As a part of the DofE expedition, we had to set ourselves a challenge to complete whilst on the hike, so we decided to learn some Welsh. This immediately made us connect with our surroundings more.

Along with learning about team work we developed map-reading skills and how to take bearings.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to study History, preferably at Birmingham, possibly with a year abroad or a placement year. I also plan to go travelling this summer and in uni holidays.

Eleanor, 2022