Cranford Review 2021

YEAR 13
#
Year 13 Celebration Event
Message to Year 13
As we have come to the end of the celebration event,
we would like to take a moment to think about the past
two years. We’ve all spent a significant portion of our
time at Cranford and there is probably a mixture of
unprocessed emotions in this crowd. Some of you may
be excited to start the next chapter of your life, whereas
others may be finding it harder to say goodbye.
But for us personally, there was far more fear in this
final week than anticipated. The idea of leaving school
probably seemed so easy and exciting all those months
ago, but as the time approached, it became a lot more
real and hard-hitting. The time spent at Cranford is
unforgettable in many ways and we’re sure that you’ll
be leaving with fond memories just like us.
We would like to congratulate us all for reaching this
major life milestone, as well as the teachers for helping
us come so far. For now, the toughest times are behind
us and we can begin to look forward to enjoying this
summer and our lives ahead. No more Teams lessons, no
more thinking about coursework, and no more gathering
of evidence. This might be the freest you’ll be in a while,
so make the most of it! Take this opportunity to pick up
that hobby, get that job or be more active. From today,
you will virtually be a blank page; the responsibilities
you had as an A-Level student will no longer hold you
back, and you will have the chance to re-evaluate and
redefine your identities.
I’ve learnt that being able to embrace your individuality is an important
asset to have. I found that the common attribute between many successful
people is the appreciation of their individuality and the ability to love
themselves harder every time they develop further. You define your own
success and you will set the standards for yourself that you know you’ll
be proud of.
You may have heard that after the age of 18, life goes downhill and that
your school days will be the best time of your lives, but we hope you
realise that life is what you make it. Look around you and appreciate
the presence and support you’ve been given by your peers and teachers
because it’s undeniable that you have been influenced by the environment
around you, and hopefully you have made a positive impact on someone
else too. But ultimately, you are the one who decides how to react to
changes and take them in your stride.
No matter what you decide to do, life will be hectic and things may
seem overwhelming, so we want to remind you to reflect on yourselves
from time to time. Check in with yourself to make sure you are content
with what you are. Don’t think less of yourself, but think of yourself
less. Ground yourself in the present moment and enjoy life as it happens
because it will only happen once. And the same thing goes for this
celebration event. So let’s take a moment to take this all in and simply
enjoy it. Stay safe this summer and we wish you all the best in your
future endeavours, and don’t forget to be kind to yourselves!
Guy Boonyarakyotin & Anjali Bhambra
(Head Boy and Head Girl 2020-2021)
93