Page 160 - Herioter 2020

Freya Groves,

Captain

Undoubtedly one of the most satisfying eminently suited to the role, and I’m not by example.
aspects of language exchanges for just referring to the unerring tenacity A Herioter since P1, that the school
us staff is the privilege of witnessing she demonstrated in mastering the community should mean as much as it
first-hand the resourcefulness of young complexities and intricacies of German so evidently does to Freya comes as no
people in adapting to an environment grammar: the organisational skills which surprise; she is particularly appreciative
which takes them far beyond their she applies so successfully to her studies of the support it has given her and –
comfort zone. That Freya, a veteran of have, by her own admission, been pivotal yes, you guessed it – the diversity of
two such programmes with our German to Freya’s effectiveness as Captain. opportunities it has afforded her. Indeed,
partner schools in Munich and Marburg, However, it is perhaps her natural the extent of her involvement with that
should palpably flourish in both instances empathy, kindness and exceptional wider Heriot’s community has been a real
was as pleasing as it was predictable. people skills which set her apart above highlight of her captaincy.
Indeed, in the case of the latter, the away all else; qualities which I feel genuinely The proud recipient of an Arkwright
leg of which took the form of a week- privileged to have seen in action, both Scholarship, Freya now prepares to head
long work experience placement in a within and beyond the relative confines west to pursue her dream of embarking
school for pupils with a variety of mental of the classroom. on undergraduate studies in mechanical
and physical disabilities, so effusive was Tellingly, when asked about her most engineering at Strathclyde University,
Freya’s mentor in praising the quality and memorable Heriot’s moments, alongside where yet more exciting opportunities
impact of her work that I clearly recall the language exchanges and Gold Duke not to mention success surely await.
exchanging a knowing confirmatory look of Edinburgh’s Awards expeditions, Freya
with my colleague Ms Bruce, who shared highlights the numerous opportunities Freya, you have led the School with
my view that we had in our midst a for volunteering, such as starting an diligence, empathy, kindness and poise,
potential School Captain. invariably enrichening the lives of those
engineering club for Junior School fortunate enough to be around you,
And what an outstanding appointment pupils; this propensity to give of herself myself included. As such, you epitomise
she has proven to be. is indicative not only of a remarkable everything that is good about this place
Having taught Freya for seven years I feel generosity of spirit, but crucially of that and leave with our heartfelt thanks and
reasonably well qualified to vouch for the essential quality to be found in all the fondest wishes for the future.
multitude of attributes which made her best leaders, namely the capacity to lead
Mr Mark Grant

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