On Monday, 15 March, Croydon High alumna, Hannah Schmitz, the Principal Strategy Engineer for Austrian Formula One team Red Bull Racing, visited both the Junior and Senior Schools and gave us an insight into her exciting job and her life.

She told us that it all began in 2009 when she graduated from Cambridge with a Master’s in Engineering. However, this year also coincided with the economic recession that took place in 2008, which caused many F1 teams to be against hiring new personnel. Although she was a graduate, she applied to and joined Red Bull on a student placement and when another member left the team, she received a full-time job and, ever since, has won three championships with the team in her role! Formula One is traditionally perceived as a male-dominated sport, however women like Hannah Schmitz provide many girls who aspire to go into careers like F1 with hope and a role model to look up to. She shows them that their dreams, which they may have previously thought inconceivable, can come true. We are ever so grateful to both Hannah for giving up her time and Mrs Karteepan for organising this inspiring event.

Prajnaa
Year 10

Hannah Schmitz is an icon within the world of Formula One for women and a beacon of light in a sea of men to show that dreams do come true. She joined Red Bull in 2009 and is considered a key cog in their machine and it was both a joy and an eye opener to be able to talk to her.

She brought with her parts of previous cars; the throttle pedal from the RB12 and the brake duct from the RB16. She showed us how much work went into creating, optimising, testing and transporting each individual part of the cars. In such a fast-paced world and with new races added to the calendar each year, she told us how she coped with the travel, demands, workload and balancing a family life. As a parent of two and an incredibly successful woman, she proves the two are not exclusive and is an inspiration to us all.

Meeting Hannah was a dream come true, and it goes to show how close your dreams are. Getting the insider view of a million, if not billion-pound industry and hearing firsthand what it means to her is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that will undoubtedly stick with me for life.

So, I would like to thank Hannah for taking one of her few free days in a year to come and see us and Ms Karteepan for organising this opportunity and making life-changing experiences happen.

Ava H-K
Year 10

From the Junior School

I really enjoyed Hannah’s talk, it was so interesting. I hadn’t really linked engineering with science. I will definitely be looking into this subject more. |
Amena D
6N

I found Hannah to be really inspirational because not many women work in Formula One and she made me believe that women can do anything.
Shamirah H-M
6N

I enjoyed Hannah talking in detail about her role and how she worked her way up. It shows that she is a determined and multi-tasking person. I liked being able to handle the props that she brought in too.
Ava P
6M

I was inspired by Hannah’s passion and knowledge. She explained her job well and in detail and helped us all to understand the science behind how Formula One cars race.
Medina Z
6M

Hannah’s talk was very interactive, I liked that she passed around real life objects. I was impressed that she was a Croydon High pupil and that she achieved her goals which is really inspirational. I also think it’s important that women in science inspire other women to pursue a career in this area.
Ellie P
5W

Hannah was so inspiring and she introduced us all to STEM which was very interesting. We all enjoyed trying on the racing helmet!
Arisa M
5M

It was a privilege to meet Hannah and invite her back to Croydon High. It was lovely to see the impact that she had on the Junior and Senior School pupils. Mr Taylor was quite excited and took a picture as soon as he saw the cutouts of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

I can’t forget the beaming faces and multiple jaw-drops I witnessed from the pupils. She is an inspiration to all of us, not only is she a prominent figure in the F1 world, she’s also a mother of two girls!

The Astrogazers and I are delighted to have Hannah onboard Mission Pegasus. We look forward to inviting her again to Croydon High and to the upcoming Mission Pegasus meetings.

Mrs Karteepan
Head of Physics
Director of Astrogazers

For the past few weeks, the corridors of the Junior School have been pulsing with the wonderful sounds of “Circle of Life”, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?” and all of the beloved classics of this fabulous show. The Year 4 girls played the principal roles with fantastic and enthusiastic support from Year 3. The cast learnt and performed songs with complex harmonies and in different languages, with vibrant and energetic dance routines, and gave such a joyful and exciting performance! There were beautiful, emotional scenes, brilliant comic moments and incredible amounts of talent on display. Props and scenery were made by our skilled girls in Props Club, teachers sewed last-minute costumes, and a group of staff made up the face painting team, making this whole show such a fabulous collaboration.

We’re so proud of all of our brilliant Year 3 and 4 girls for making this a show to remember, and we thank everyone involved for all their support and encouragement.

Ms. Kirkby
Junior School Drama Teacher

All Year 10 and Lower Sixth artists and 3D design pupils have been involved in 30 hours of practical mocks this week. It is the first time Year 10 have sat a 5-hour practical exam, and we have been so impressed with their dedication and total commitment and passion. Over the last eight weeks, we have seen them all problem-solve, make mistakes, develop their skills and techniques, test some more, practice their skills, make more mistakes and refine to ensure they are ready for these exams. It is never an easy journey, but they learn so much along the way and the outcomes are always worth it, they have all created some amazing pieces of work and should be so proud of themselves, as we are.

The artists have all created exciting and thought-provoking self-portraits in oil paints or acrylic, and the designers have created and designed pieces of jewellery using glass, metal, or plastics. Lower Sixth artists have been responding to their personal projects, where we have seen the artists develop their passions for textiles and Lower Sixth designers develop ideas in architecture, products, and jewellery.

Well done to all the pupils involved, we can’t wait for your summer exhibition in 2025!

Mrs Elizabeth Smith
Head of Art & 3D Design
Director of Teaching & Learning

Year 6 pupils had a great time at the 2024 Year Enterprise Challenge Awards Evening. They have been working really hard over the past few months on their projects. They worked collaboratively with their team members to write a business plan, create a logo, formulate a pricing strategy, create branding and marketing content, build a website and film an advertisement for their enterprise.

On Thursday, 14 March, they set up their enterprise stalls to showcase their products and services and pitched their ideas to a panel of judges.

The judges had a really hard time choosing winners, but two top teams had to be picked. The winners of the Gold Award were iSnap by Arya, Ava, Cherry, and Suhani. The Silver Award went to Organic Beauty by Ayla, Hannah H, Hiru, Lyla, and Sianna. The People’s Choice Award winners were Sunrise Accessories by Hannah J, Rosie, Shamira, and Tabitha. Congratulations to the winners, and well done, everyone!

Mrs Krishnamurthy
Head of Junior School Enterprise Technology

Taking part in the Enterprise challenge was a brilliant experience for me and the whole of Yr6. This evening gave us all a special chance to shine at different things like: teamwork, business skills, coding, planning, designing and using our imagination to come up with clever ideas. I was a part of iSnap, and I think that taking part in this project gave us a taste of what creating an app is like. Looking back, we’ve come so far and we probably wouldn’t have known how brilliant and successful our apps would become.
-Suhani

The enterprise evening was a sight to behold. There were different stalls, different people, and different colours, but somehow, Mrs Krishnamurthy managed to organise this into one enjoyable evening for all. I think most people enjoyed being young entrepreneurs for the past few weeks because being able to create a business is a great learning experience. We spent a lot of time on this project, and I’m glad we did because, as well as being a learning experience for us all, it was a chance for us to take a taste of the real world, which for Year 6 pupils isn’t too far away.
-Izzy

Working on his experience was a fabulous experience for me and gave me a taste of what business would be like. The Enterprise Challenge Evening gave me a chance to see how you need to think when you want to own a business. You need to be creative and think in a unique way to other people. I have also learnt what you need to be like to own a business. A successful business person needs to work well with their team, always encourage their teammates and be creative.
-Anokhi

We can tell that everyone in Year 6 put so much work and effort into this project, and all of our hard work has paid off. We think that we can all agree that this was a brilliant learning experience for all of us, and we got our first taste of business. Our group was Energi, and even though we didn’t win a prize, we felt very proud of ourselves because of how far we have come.
-Lucy, Amaya, Maahi, Medina

Our Enterprise Challenge was very fun and it was a great experience for us. We really enjoyed ourselves especially making our logo and mascot. The part we found the hardest was the HTML coding. We are very proud of our achievement and hope we get another opportunity like this in the future.
-Zara, Ashni, Inarah, Amaiya

Model United Nations (MUN) is an activity where pupils will be given a country to represent and they will be putting forward their views when debating key issues that are currently being addressed by the United Nations. Our pupils debated issues ranging from ‘Sustainable Resource Use in Fashion Industry’ to ‘Reforming the current voting system in the European Union’. The pupils enjoyed putting forth the views of the countries they had been allocated whilst also being enriched and viewing what life in a London University looks like.

The pupils also enjoyed some time at social events organised by the Conference, attending a delegate mixer on Friday night and a formal ball on Saturday.

We would like to thank the LSE MUN Society for organising this conference and give special congratulations to Isabella B in Year 10 for winning an award! Isabella represented Kenya in the UNEP Committee.

Mr B Kazi
Teacher of Mathematics
Director of MUN

On 20 March, 33 teams from 7 schools across South and East London competed in the Geographical Association’s Worldwise Quiz, organised and hosted by Croydon High’s Geography Department. It was fantastic to have Blackheath and Sydenham High Schools join us in the event, and all three GDST schools did well in placing as runners-up in different categories. A special mention must go to Chloe and Frankie in Year 8, who achieved the highest score for a team of two students across all year groups and teams competing! Congratulations to Langley Park School for Boys, who retained their position as having the highest-scoring team for the second year in a row. It was fantastic to have 24 Croydon High pupils taking part in the quiz, there was a real buzz in the room, well done!

Mrs Mollison
Head of Geography

GDST Science Spelling Bee

This is an annual competition whereby Year 7 and 8 pupils have to correctly spell as many scientific words as possible in 1 minute from a list of 40 words. No mean feat I am sure you will agree.

Heats were held to find three pupils to represent the school. Ana R, Soha H and Wanizah A were selected. They were then given a new list of 40 words to learn ahead of the final held on March 14th. These were not easy words ranging from Algorithmic and Electronegative to Quotient.

Unfortunately, on the day, both Soha and Wanizah were unwell, but Ana Rose did incredibly well and achieved third place overall for Croydon High School.

STEM Writing competition

Pupils were invited to write an article of 700 words on a topic of their choice in one of three categories: Science, Technology/Engineering and Mathematics. Articles were judged on subject content, creativity and writing style.

We received many great entries on a wide variety of topics ranging from ‘Does Mindfulness really work?’ to’ The role of robotics and AI in sustainable farming’. Mrs Howgego and myself really enjoyed reading all the entries which showcased the talent and enthusiasm of our pupils. However, the rules stipulated that we were only allowed to submit two entries for each category for each Key Stage.

An independent external judge judged the submitted entries, and we are thrilled that three of our KS3 pupils reached the finals that were held at Sydenham High School on Thursday, 14 March. Mrs Conrad attended the ceremony along with the students and their parents. There were several schools represented in the finals from GDST schools, Dulwich College, James Allens’s Girls School and Townley Grammer.

We would like to congratulate the following students for their amazing achievements:
Divya S, 3rd place in the Technology category for her essay on ‘ Is Snapchat AI safe?’
Arwa K, 2nd place in the Science category for her essay ‘A Woman’s Pain’
Maha Z, 1st place in the Technology category for her essay ‘What are the Ethical Challenges for Companies Working with Artificial Intelligence?’

A final word from Maha on what winning meant to her:
The GDST STEM writing competition award ceremony was really great. The judges spoke about their careers and what they did to get where they are now. They were all so passionate about the subject they were judging, hearing them speak inspired me and now I’m determined to pursue a career in Tech. I was shocked to receive first prize for the Under 14 tech and engineering category, I really didn’t expect it, if I’m honest I was just happy to be a finalist. The one thing I will take away from the whole experience is that whatever you do in life make sure it’s something you are passionate about.

Ms Conrad
Head of Science

As last week was Science Week, we saw many pupils take part in the activities which ranged from squid dissections, extracting DNA from strawberries, and making parachutes.

There were also some internal competitions. Year 7 pupils were invited to create a ‘Science in a Shoebox’ which saw some really varied and creative entries.

The treasure hunt for ducks proved very popular with both staff and pupils. Over 100 small ducks were hidden around school and the grounds and pupils got house points for finding them.

The final event was to find who could throw a paper aeroplane made from 1 piece of A4 the furthest.

Science staff would like to thank all pupils and staff for taking part in these activities. Winners will be announced at the celebration assembly on Monday.

Ms Conrad
Head of Science

On Friday, 1 March, five of Croydon High’s outstanding musicians gave a recital performance at Croydon Minster. This was to a public audience of around 30 people in a fabulous setting for a concert. Eloane was the first to perform, giving an emotive performance of Fauré’s Élégie on cello, with excellent detail in the fiery middle section. Yuki performed next on piano. She gave a lovely rendition of Mozart’s Sonata No.15 in B flat, with some excellent articulation and a light yet confident touch. There was then a change of mood as Nayana sang ‘Fields of Gold’ by Sting. She had a lovely laidback style and enchanted the audience with her delicate performance. Milly then performed Smetana’s ‘Aus Der Heimat’ on violin. Once again, this was a beautiful, reflective performance, with Milly bringing out a large romantic tone from the instrument to interpret the composer’s love of his homeland. The concert was brought to a great climax by Sophia, who played Fauré’s Romance sans paroles on piano. The audience were transfixed by the beauty of the piece and the relaxed playing style.

I would like to congratulate all performers who wowed the audience, and I look forward to our next visit to the Minster on Friday 14 June.

Mr Suranyi
Director of Music

This term’s informal concert was held on the evening of Wednesday, 13 March, and proved to be a wonderful night of music. Around 25 pupils performed pieces from across all genres, from pop to Baroque and jazz to songs from shows. The variety of instruments on show was also impressive, with a clarinet sonata followed by a Hindi song and some jazz by Thelonius Monk followed by a piano piece by Khachaturian. There was some marvellous instrumental playing as well as beautiful, characterful singing.

All the musicians had worked very hard to give polished performances, and it would be unfair to single out any one player for special attention as there were so many excellent pieces. Performers came from all year groups between Year 7 and Upper Sixth, with some giving their first solo performance in the school and others at the top end giving what is to be their last before taking their A levels.

I would like to thank all the instrumental and singing teachers who have worked so hard preparing students for their performances. I would also like to thank Mr Davies for his excellent accompanying skills, which allowed all students to play to the best of their abilities. Finally, I would like to send a big “Well done!” to everyone who performed in the concert. It was a truly wonderful evening.

Mr Suranyi
Director of Music

On Monday, Year 1 had a great time exploring the outdoors at Gatton Park. As part of their learning in Science about plants and senses, Year 1 were transformed into squirrels, bees and plant detectives! They learnt about the conditions needed for a seed to grow and how bees are excellent pollinators. In the afternoon, they went on a sensory walk to collect herbs to make a smelly cocktail! They also made an artist’s colour palette using natural items they could find.

Miss Laura Threadgold
Deputy Head of Juniors and Year 1 Teacher

Over the last four weeks, each week, a group of Reception children have taken a trip to Sainsbury’s as part of our topic on Food. In class, we shared different stories about our English topic, including Kitchen Disco by Clare Foges and Al Murphy. The class had written shopping lists and took these to buy the items at Sainsbury’s. We brought the ingredients back to class and made the following items, pancakes, toast, fruit salad and Easter baskets. As you can imagine, this has been a very exciting topic and thoroughly enjoyed by all!

Mrs Amanda D’Aranjo
Reception Teacher

On Friday, 15 March, Early Years visited Selsdon Centre for the Retired dressed in their Easter bonnets. We had a wonderful time singing to the residents and performing our Easter songs, including ‘ Do you like my Easter bonnet?’ and ‘It must be spring!’ We look forward to visiting again now that the centre remains open and has been granted a three-year grant.

Mrs Amanda D’Aranjo
Reception Teacher

On 2 March, 10 Lower Sixth pupils performed at Whitgift in the ‘Love Not Hate’ event in support of anti-knife. Multiple schools were there, including Shirley High Performing Arts, the Brit School, and other groups such as the Rock Project. Croydon High performed the infamous Waka Waka by Shakira, which we originally did in the Fashion Show back in November, and a singing performance beforehand of Mamma Mia by ABBA.

It was a really good experience as well as heart-warming to witness so many organisations come together in support of the horrific knife crimes that occur in Croydon. We all thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this event and were honoured to showcase our talent amongst the youth of Croydon.

Nayana N
Lower Sixth

Protecting our wellbeing and cultivating positive mental health is less challenging than people may think, with simple activities that can be incorporated into daily life we can all start to build the resilience we need to manage life’s pressures. Trying new things can sometimes feel uncomfortable, but we also know the more we practise them, the easier they become. Why not give them a try this half-term and see which one suits you best?

1. Get closer to nature

Nature can have a calming effect on the body, helping people to feel more hopeful and less alone. In Japan, people use “forest bathing”, known as ‘Shinrin Yoku’. The simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you whilst breathing deeply can help both adults and children de-stress and boost health and wellbeing in a natural way. The idea is to get connected with your natural surroundings.

Croydon High is surrounded by greenery with a beautiful tree-lined field, the perfect set-up for going on short walks at break time or lunch, or even sitting on a bench and just simply being still and present.

Through weekly lessons or as part of Nature Club, the Junior School Forest School provides pupils with the opportunity to explore outdoor learning through all seasons. Not only does Forest School enable the pupils to connect with nature, but also gets them thinking about sustainability and the future of green spaces, and its surroundings.

2. Move your body

Our bodies and minds are interdependent, and looking after ourselves physically also helps us prevent problems with our mental health. Moving our bodies whether this be through sport, gardening, dancing, cycling, walking the dog, cleaning or going to the gym, are all great ways to improve our mental and physical health.

Exercise releases “feel good” hormones that reduce feelings of stress and anger, help us feel better about our bodies and even improve our sleep. If it involves other people, like being part of a team, a class or a group we see regularly, that can also boost our mental health.

Sport is a huge part of life at Croydon High – ranging from badminton to water polo, the pupils get to experience a variety of sports, keeping them fit and active throughout their time in school.

Pupils can also get involved with the ever-growing gardening club in the Junior School, which has now been introduced as part of the Senior School co-curricular. This is a brilliant way to not only move your body but also get closer to nature.

3. Being kind & showing gratitude

Research shows that being kind is good for everyone’s mental health. Being kind can boost our mood, help us feel more capable, strengthen our connections with others and even make us cope better with stress. You could try small but meaningful acts of kindness, such as offering a smile or a few kind words to another person. Friendly connections with others are vital for our mental health.

Practising gratitude is a way for people to appreciate what they have, instead of always reaching for something new in the hope it will make them happier, or thinking they can’t feel satisfied until every physical and material need is met. Gratitude helps people refocus on what they have instead of what they lack. Try writing thank-you notes or thanking someone mentally, writing a gratitude journal or doing an A-Z of the things you are grateful for.

4. Plan things to look forward to – vorfreude

Making plans for things we enjoy can increase our sense of hope, which is important for our mental health. Our plan could be for anything from small pleasures, like a cup of tea or your favourite TV programme or dance class, to a trip with family or friends, or seeing your favourite film, sports team or singer. Whether it’s a small or a big one, the important thing is to plan it, book it in the diary and look forward to it. The German word vorfreude describes it perfectly, ‘an intense emotion that you feel for an upcoming occasion or something that you are awaiting or expecting’.

5. Talk – a problem shared is a problem halved

The simple act of talking things through with a person we trust can help and feel like a relief. Talking may also change how you see and feel about the situation in ways you find helpful. Another benefit is that talking may strengthen your relationship with the person you speak with. This will benefit both of you and make it easier for them to turn to you when they need support themselves. Try drawing your own web of connections – a “resilience network”, writing down all the names of everyone you feel you can ask for support; start with the people you are closest to and think about how many people you know, how far away do they live and how could you contact them if you needed to; then write down all the ways they help you and you can help them.
In case children struggle to articulate their resilience network they can be reminded of KOOTH and SHOUT, online and text services respectively, which are designed for teenagers and regulated by professionals.

For parents, the webinar series “Let’s All Talk Mental Health” often has good speakers and hosts a range of videos with advice. It is a subscription-based service and comes at a small cost. Alternatively, Place2Be has short videos with advice for parents on a range of issues, with a leaning towards advice for younger children.

Ms Nerys James
Head of Psychology & Sociology, Director of Pupil Wellbeing & Head of Lower Sixth

Croydon High Charity Movie Night

Tuesday 26 March | 4.00-6.30pm
Lecture Theatre

Open to Years 7 – 10

Help us celebrate the end of term and raise money for Young Roots, a local charity which works with refugees.

Entry via donation on ParentPay – limited spaces, but a few still available – Book Now!

We will also be running a chocolate tombola, guess the weight of the teddy and refreshments, so bring some change – all money raised will go to charity.

See letter that was sent out to parents last week for more details or email Mrs Tooke: C.Tooke@cry.gdst.net

JOIN US!

Has your child always wanted to be on stage?

Would he/she like to join our Workshop and take part in our annual musical?

Kenley Holiday Workshop is a local group of 50 or so young people aged 9-18 who spend a fortnight of their summer holiday preparing and presenting a show at the Barn Theatre, Oxted, under the expert guidance of a talented directing team. KHW has something really special!

On stage, you see a group of youngsters having a great time presenting a really good show. But it is much more than that. We are a community, a family, with the performers supported by a large unseen team, from the talented Directors to the big group of backstage workers, led by our superb Stage Manager, together with many parents helping in so many ways.
The children gain confidence, learn new skills, make lasting friendships and, above all, have fun!

The show for 2024 is the magnificent “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Audition date is: Sunday 14 April
Rehearsal dates are: Saturday 3 to Tuesday 13 August
Performance dates are: Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 August
(Everyone must be available for the whole of the rehearsal period)

Rehearsals will be at St Francis’ Catholic Primary School in Whyteleafe, with the second week based at the Barn Theatre, Oxted.
If you would like some more information, please contact: sallydallosso@googlemail.com
^{(Bursaries are available for those in financial need)}

Download the flyer

Dr Mayoni Gooneratne MBBS, BSc, MRCS, MBCAM, AFMCP, Class of 1994

Dr Mayoni Gooneratne is a London-based general surgeon with 24 years of medical and surgical experience with a passion for female wellness. Her professional career began in surgery as a graduate of St George’s Hospital Medical School in London, and she has been a member of the Royal College of Surgeons since 2002. Mayoni is an aesthetics doctor, functional medicine doctor, and a former NHS colorectal and pelvic floor surgeon. She undertook a period of research at the Blizzard Institute early in her career to look at pathways that affect incontinence.

Mayoni has also undertaken extensive training with the respected Cosmetic Courses. At the time, this was the only training academy in the UK led by a plastic surgeon, Adrian Richards. She has also undergone further studies in functional medicine with the Institute of Functional Medicine in the US, amongst other colleges.

With this integrative approach to women’s health, she is the founder of Human Health and SkinFit and the medical director of award-winning The Clinics by Dr Mayoni. The services her team delivers allow an upstream level of care to help women overcome the health blocks that stand between them and their highest potential. She firmly believes that all women have the right to be informed advocates of their own health.

She is a busy mum of three with her own perimenopausal journey, which prompted her to create her unique programmes to help her patients navigate their health during the changes to their reproductive health so that they can truly seize the moment and thrive.

Throughout her career, she has spoken at several international and national surgical and health conferences associated with her research, as well as in the aesthetics industry. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and more mainstream consumer press, namely Tatler, Cosmopolitan, and Women’s Health.

In 2017, Mayoni was highly commended in the Best New Clinic in the UK and Ireland Award at the Aesthetics Awards and shortlisted for Best London Clinic in 2018.
She was awarded Entrepreneur 100 in 2019 and was nominated for Best Business Woman in Health and Wellness 2022. Human Health was also shortlisted for the best clinic innovation in the Aesthetics Awards 2023.

Mayoni states, ‘As a nation, we have become more illness-focused than wellness-focused. We look for answers when our health has deteriorated to the extent that we need medicines and surgery, which have risks and complications. This approach also places huge pressure on the NHS and the people working within it, which is not sustainable. I truly believe our future lies in understanding our cell biology, metabolic processes, and gut health and how to positively influence these.’

Since 2022, she has been Vice Chair of the British College of Functional Medicine, which is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities through education, research, and advocacy in the field of functional medicine. She truly believes that the #futurehuman is possible. Someone who is well informed of their genetics and environmental factors along with hormonal, mitochondrial and immune health that allows them to feel healthy from the inside out.

We caught up with Mayoni recently for a Q&A session:

What aspects of Croydon High School did you enjoy and find most rewarding?

Feeling part of something that was bigger than the sum of the parts. Finding my tribe. I was a science fan, and at no point was I made to feel weird about it. In fact, it was celebrated!

What did you aspire to whilst at school?

To study hard, to be the best at my chosen subjects and to become a doctor.

How did Croydon High School empower you for your future?

Options, values and by giving me confidence in myself. My ability to be totally self-motivated to excel. Working hard and staying consistent produces results every time.

What has been your proudest moment?

Winning an award at the time of leaving Sixth Form together being a prefect.

What are your hopes for the future?

That women are able to realise how limitless they are. That they stop comparing themselves to men or other women. Instead, they truly focus on their own path and truest self. Finding that highest point of self-actualisation. Because when women believe they are limitless, they can achieve anything. I have seen this in my patients and colleagues alike.

What would you say to your younger self?

Do it. Don’t say no. Always reflect back on your achievements and take time to smell the roses. It’s why you have chosen the life you have. You have the most incredible opportunities in front of you; it all starts with your self-belief and a fantastic degree. Remember that all those ‘obstacles’ were blessings and steers to take you in the right direction. When you know this, you can truly relax and enjoy the journey!

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

I would like to thank all my teachers, who gently but powerfully nurtured my passion for learning, advancing, and improving the lives of others. From them, I learnt that ANYTHING was possible. ‘Ok, so you want to be a doctor? Work hard, get the grades, and you can achieve anything, Mayoni,’ are the words I will always remember being told.

The path less trodden is also very possible if you stay true to who you are. With a traditional degree such as Medicine, it can feel like you are limited in your options. Yet nothing can be further from the truth—by focusing on what you love and observing how you can best serve society with your skills, you can truly push the boundaries of the expected path.

Mrs Karen Roe
Alumnae Relations Manager