Moving on from secondary school is an epochal and transformative moment in a teenager’s life.
Whether or not they are moving to somewhere new, the changes to their atmosphere and expectations are significant.
Going into Year 12, 16-year-olds who were once viewed as immature adolescents are now ‘calling the shots’ and given the freedom to decide who they are and who they want to be.
This transition, although incredibly exciting, can be extremely intimidating.
To ease this adjustment I used my long summer break to participate in the FUSE Summer Leadership programme.
Over a seven-week programme, I developed crucial leadership skills that have helped build my confidence and prepare me for new, exciting opportunities.
Although the first few sessions were slightly daunting, I quickly made new friends and gained practical experiences through workshops on safeguarding, first aid and mental health.
Although, my favourite part of the programme was the 2-day retreat to a beautiful house in the Cambridge countryside, where we spent time playing board games and participating in self-esteem-building exercises.
It was a great chance to relax and reset, as we discussed our future aspirations and spent time with friends.
The scheme was run by Harriet Boamah who stated
“I could see the growth of all the participants in such a short time span.”
In agreement with this, I found the Summer Leadership programme an incredible opportunity to learn more and give back to my community while also getting to understand the importance of actively making time to take care of myself.
I would recommend taking part in the programme for any 16-year-old wanting to gain experience, and confidence, or just meet new people as I found it to be a great way to prepare for 6th form.
