I came to Bradfield hoping to just remain quiet and reserved so that way no one would notice me. Anyone who has been in a class with me over the last five years will tell you that those are two things of which I am incapable! But that is just evidence for how much Bradfield motivated me and moulded me into the confident performer I am today.
If you were to tell that young 13-year-old boy, who was shaking with anxiety on his first day in Year 9, that he would go on to be the lead in one of Bradfield’s famous Greek plays, he would have just laughed. However, last summer I had the privilege of playing the leading man in the 2019 production of Alcestis in the Greek Theatre. To say I found it a challenge to perform a play with the dialogue entirely in Greek would be a huge understatement. It was difficult and I had to work really hard at it but now I can officially say that I took part in something that is so iconic and unique to Bradfield and that really made me feel proud to be a Bradfieldian.
You don’t have to be the most intelligent person in the room to shine at Bradfield.
I knew coming to Bradfield that I would not be the strongest academically. Maths and Science were pretty much (and still are) different languages to me. But what makes Bradfield so special is that you don’t have to be the most intelligent person in the room to shine at Bradfield. I knew that performing was my main passion and Bradfield has provided me with more than enough opportunities. I have sung in many different school concerts throughout the years, my personal favourites being the Spring Concert and Jazz on a Summer’s Evening. Some concerts during my time here have also been created entirely by the pupils themselves including last year’s charity concert for the OSCAR Foundation and the summer Rock Concert in the Greek Theatre.
As well as the many concerts, there have been countless plays produced during my time here which I have always enjoyed being a part of. No matter how big or small the role may be, the plays are always such a rewarding experience.
I can assure you that Bradfield will go out of its way to provide you with any help you may need.
Sadly, I can’t offer too much of a personal perspective on the incredible sporting activities that Bradfield has to offer, and there are truly so many activities and different sports that anyone can enjoy. I am not a sporty person at all. However, I was encouraged in Year 10 to join the cross-country team which, at first, seemed like a ridiculous idea, but I tried it and I stuck with it and I am still running with the club in my final year.
It was certainly not easy at first, but every week it got a little easier. I just had to do it every week, that was the hard part. I think that that can also relate to school in some sense. No school is going to be a walk in the park and you may be extremely nervous at first, but it does get easier and I can assure you that Bradfield will go out of its way to provide you with any help you may need if you are struggling.
If I were to give advice to anyone about to start their Bradfield career it would be to try things that might seem out of your comfort zone because you never know what you could discover about yourself.
