As my journey in Year 12 ends, a new beginning one step closer to my A levels is kindled as I make my way into Year 13.
My experience with the Rochester Bridge Trust has been nothing short of extraordinary; every day out I came home learning more and more each time, whether that be the new people that I met, new history, or new developing forms of innovation in all kinds of industries in the engineering world. What I found the most notable, was the masterpieces that Cake industries had been consistently designing and producing, such as the rotating bridge that could be operated by hand, or their steelwork in the WaterAid Chelsea flower show.
I have used my involvement with the Trust not only to better my chances at future opportunities, but also to invest in early research of future topics that I will be undertaking at university as part of my journey to become an engineer.
Aside from my involvement with the Trust, my academic performance and obsession with my studies has been exponentially growing, finding myself constantly seeking new challenges in order to improve my skills across the board, ready for my next step; university. I have had great success in terms of school awards, including the Jenkinson prize for best chemistry student of the year, as well as taking part in the Cambridge chemistry challenge (award to be decided). I have just completed my end of year mocks as well, which I hope will bring me the predicted grades that I both need and have worked hard for.
Outside of school, my intention to decide on which engineering discipline is the right choice for me, through the use of work experience, has been coming along nicely. I was extremely fortunate to gain two weeks worth of work experience for the next few weeks, the first week being for BAE systems, which required a heavily contested application process to enter, along with the second week at Phinia, who specialise in the research of engines and how to decarbonise the automotive industry in the near future.
In the coming summer, I intend to gain further work experience to better refine my decision as to which course I will be undertaking, as well as studying for the coming entrance exam for Oxford – the PET. I will also use the break as a breather in order to make sure that I am able to hit the ground running in the coming year.
I am forever in debt to the Rochester Bridge Trust for presenting me with the Telford scholarship; the opportunities it has unlocked for me have been uncountable. I eagerly look forward to what the coming year may have in store.