Page 53 - Seaford Sixth Form Experience 2019

Lourdes Velasco-Nicholls
Do you do anything co-curricular alongside your studies?
CCF, which I really enjoy for the flying, I’ve been doing it since Year 10. I like having some form of structure and the leadership skills. I’m really not very confident with leadership; so I wanted to build up some form of skills in that area. Carrying out CCF operations has helped me with confidence.
Do you take a lead within CCF?
Yes, we’re teaching drill at the moment and we teach lessons so it’s all those skills that I would never have been able to get.
Had you thought about going into the military?
I did actually look really heavily into it. The physical aspects of it and the structure of the day didn’t look like something I’d enjoy.
Do you have a role within CCF?
Lance Corporal. I support the section leader as part of it.
Where do you go flying?
Boscombe Down. I fly Tutors with another pilot.
How long have you been flying?
Since Year 10 with the CCF at Seaford.
Is it really popular?
You’d think it would be but the army is so much bigger.
All day Wednesday you get to go and fly. There’s maybe 10 of us and we fly over land. I love it. It’s great. I never really wanted to have a normal sit at a desk type job.
Do you do anything for Purple Time?
I go to Care Homes which I enjoy. I go every other Wednesday. You can also go to an animal rescue centre too which I thought was a good idea.
What do you get from that?
Being able to keep up conversation with people. It’s a skill to hold a conversation with someone that I wouldn’t normally talk to. Having those skills are really going to benefit me.
Tell us about Peer Mentoring
I am a Peer Mentor, I found out yesterday. I hope to be able to gain some form of leadership. I’m confident to give advice to people; I want to help support the LGBT community.
Lourdes flies Tutors at Boscombe Down as part of the RAF section of the CCF
51