13 in the music classrooms overlooking Upper Field, that I felt like I belonged. I was finally able to feel like a part of something so much bigger than before. Reflecting on my two years at Abingdon, I’ve tried to pick some ‘stand out moments’, some highlights of my experience. And yes, absolutely, I’ve had some amazing moments: singing tenor solos in the Messiah, conducting my own music in symphony orchestra, pulling off a solo at the Cabaret evening with the big band are all absolute moments of pride for me. Beyond music, the moment when Mr Windsor sat me down in his office and told me I had become Head of school, and walking down the Chapel corridor in Big School, staring at that board of Heads of School and looking at the legacy and history I would have the privilege to continue. Opening that email from Cambridge in my economics lesson, seeing that after so many hours and nights of hard work, revision, practice interviews and essay competitions, I’d earned a place to read economics at Cambridge, was such a moment of pride for myself - and for my family. There is no doubt in my mind that these moments, how much they meant to me and to my parents, would never have been as special, and perhaps never have happened at all, without the opportunity to come to Abingdon afforded to me by the bursary programme. What made these moments so special to me wasn’t just that they were fantastic in their own right, but instead that they were with some of my favourite people, surrounded by a support network of brilliant teachers and in an environment that celebrates excellence and achievement. But out of my whole time at Abingdon, and what it means to me to have the privilege of coming to this school, isn’t just one defining moment. It’s that feeling of belonging, like Abingdon really was for me, that I feel every day I come to school. It’s that feeling in the mornings as I walk into school, the sun rising over Big School and Upper Field, excited to face new challenges, have amazing moments with my friends, nervous about speaking in assembly or a performance later that evening. It’s that feeling of going between lessons with my mates, and just appreciating how awesome and how privileged it is to be in such a historic school that gives us the chance to just have fun and enjoy ourselves. It’s that late-evening choir rehearsal in the chapel, in winter as it’s completely dark outside, the yellowish lights colouring the chapel windows and wooden pews. It’s that collective deep breath in, as we all look around the room, and craft a chord that sings around the high ceiling with resonance and beauty that just makes me swell with happiness. Leaving after those rehearsals, looking back at Big school lit up by the archaic lights, makes me feel like I belong. Without support from the bursary programme, I would never have been able to come to this amazing school, meet these amazing people, become engrossed in the breadth of opportunity that Abingdon has to offer, and to feel like I really belonged. My parents are both exceptionally hard-working, motivated and ambitious people that I admire in more ways than words can describe: my dad works 10-12 hour night shifts at the Mini factory and my mum is an immigrant who trained herself to become a qualified chartered accountant whilst raising me and my brother. They had always wanted me to come to a place like Abingdon, somewhere I could explore my potential and have my hard work and dedication really pay off. Their dreams and ambitions for me would have stayed just that, dreams and ambitions, without the generosity of the donors and the amazing work of the bursary program here at Abingdon. I would never have been able to feel this sense of excitement about school and academics, learn so much about my subject, get that offer from Cambridge and to experience and enjoy life in a new way. The bursary program has meant I’ve become busy in the same way that Abingdon is, I’ve become more passionate about my subjects, developed a deeper love for the beauty of music, made friends that I’m going to go to university with, that I know will be my friends for life. Without support from the bursary programme I would never have been able to come to this amazing school, and to feel that l really belonged.
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