Hannah was the GAP student at Francis Holland School in Regent's Park London this year. Here is her report.

As I write this, I have four days left until the winter term commences at Francis Holland and my life returns to some level of normality…  if you can call my job normal.  On any given day, things can change at a seconds notice and I’m still not entirely sure what my official title is.  While you can more often than not find me by the school’s swimming pool with the girls or taking sports in Regent’s Park, I also assist with the year 7's trips every Monday and Thursday, help run the theatre productions, take sports clubs, work in the office and of course tidy (and re-tidy) the gym cupboards!  Alongside what is considered the everyday, the opportunities I have been given through this job are more than I could have ever anticipated.  If this time last year you had told me I would have been to three different countries for work, met the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, attended lectures by renowned professors, or have 3 months of time off to travel, all whilst living in London, I wouldn’t have believed it.

During my time off I decided that I would make use of the money I saved last year by spending every last cent, much to my parent’s delight.  I went to 11 countries and countless towns and cities, mostly through group travel but a little on my own as well.  I found that both styles were incredibly rewarding in different ways and I have definitely got a taste for it now!  There are so many moments that are going to stay with me forever, like being in Bordeaux for the FIFA World Cup Final and being so caught up in the hysteria of winning that my friends and I ended up jumping fully clothed into a fountain with all the celebrators, or watching the sunrise while sitting on the beach in Los.  While these past couple of months have felt like a dream, this year has forced me to grow up and adjust to the ‘real world’ that we had been warned about, with special thanks to wellness day’s “How To Flat For The First Time” as I have managed to keep my food mostly un-stolen! Dealing with very real bills, rent, and responsibilities has certainly been eye-opening but I can honestly say that I’m enjoying every second of it.

With this year wrapping up much faster than I had prepared for, I find myself not yet ready to return to the world of exams and late-night studying and have decided that next year I will be moving to America to be with family and continue work experience until I can settle on a degree I will enjoy.  I feel more confident after working with the most amazing staff and pupils this year that I will be pursuing a career in education and all I can do is hope that this doesn’t bring concern to any of the teachers that knew me during my time at WGC!

Special thanks to Mrs Davidson, without whom this experience wouldn’t have been possible.