For many, transitioning to a new school for Sixth Form is just a standard step, but for me, it was the turning point that completely redefined my future. I attended Bedes from 2018 to 2020 as a proud member of Dicker House. Like many in my year, my time on campus was abruptly cut short by the pandemic. I still vividly remember the bus ride home in March 2020, completely unaware that it would be my final day at school. Yet, despite that sudden ending, the year and a half I spent on-site left an indelible mark on my life.

Before finding my place at Bedes, school was a genuine struggle for me. I didn’t like it at all—in fact, I really hated it. I simply didn’t get along well in a traditional school environment, and moving to Bedes was completely out of my comfort zone.

As someone who always found big changes difficult, the transition felt like a massive, daunting step. However, the close-knit community within Dicker House allowed me to form deep friendships almost immediately. More importantly, I found a network of educators who truly understood who I was. Particularly Mr Oliver - my tutor, Mr Abraham - Housemaster of Dicker and Mr Juniper Head of the zoo.

What sets Bedes apart is its ability to offer a deeply personalised education. Despite the size of the student body, staff members like my tutor Mr Oliver, alongside Mr Abraham managed to tailor the entire experience to my specific interests.

I had always harboured a deep love for animals, wildlife, and nature, but my passion truly flourished when I started working at the school zoo under the guidance of Mr Juniper.

While at Bedes, I chose to study both Zoology and Business. At the time, they were simply two subjects I genuinely enjoyed, but looking back, I realise they were the exact puzzle pieces I needed to build my career. I began helping out with aquatic maintenance on weekends while still studying. After leaving school, a brief period of employment, and a three-month volunteer trip doing sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica, I decided it was time to take a leap of faith. Three years ago, with the brilliant support of my family, I drove right into my passion and launched my own pond and lake maintenance business.

Today, at 24 years old, I run a thriving company specialising in the construction, cleaning, and maintenance of ponds and lakes. My day-to-day life is a dynamic, hands-on mix of projects, ranging from large-scale construction to delicate ecological care. On any given week, I might be designing and building a brand-new water feature from scratch, or completely refurbishing a leaking pond using clay and specialised liners.

Other days are dedicated to vital maintenance and eco-treatments. For smaller garden ponds, this involves safely draining the water while ensuring the fish and wildlife are kept secure, clearing out the suffocating sludge and leaf silt from the bottom, and cleanly refilling it. When managing much larger bodies of water, the approach shifts to a lighter, more targeted touch. Instead of disrupting the habitat, I work to clear seasonal algae blooms without shocking the ecosystem, using natural bacterial treatments and introducing specific oxygenating plants to let nature do the rest.

My entire business philosophy relies heavily on environmental respect. Where traditional methods often involved destructive dredging that completely reset a pond's biological clock, I use modern, low-impact techniques designed to work with nature rather than against it. 

My business has snowballed quickly, largely because few people realise just how much care and maintenance a pond requires to truly thrive. Now, six years after I first walked past the lake at Bede’s as a pupil, I am returning to Bede's in a professional capacity to bring the school's central pond back to full health.

This project represents a poignant, full-circle moment for me. I am incredibly excited to return to Bede’s to see the school lake thrive again, and I am looking forward to properly reconnecting with the mentors who pointed me toward my purpose.

Bedes provided a place where I finally felt settled, safe, and actually enjoyed learning. It allowed me to target my dream and turn it into something real. It was the stepping stone that I don't think any other school would have ever given me.