In 2020, on a hot summer’s day in Brisbane, my parents sat me down to tell me we were moving to Aberdeen.
I would be lying if I said I got excited. I was at the age where it was impossible to think about the future when every day was fun and worry-free. It also didn’t help that every time we visited Scotland, there was horizontal rain. Not to mention, Covid was on its full path of disruption. Living in the bubble that was Australia, I had no idea how seriously they were taking restrictions in the UK. Because of that, my brother and I were the only new students when we joined in the middle of the year. It was never second-nature for me to social distance, wear a mask, and not share things with my peers. So yes, it was a tough one.
I fell out of touch with friends I was convinced I would stay connected with forever, and stayed in touch with friends I thought I would drift from the fastest. But that is part of life, and if there’s anything that moving around taught me, it’s to approach everything with an open mind because, most of the time, you will be pleasantly surprised. It’s hard to fathom that 5 years ago I was a nervous wreck walking into the front gates knowing nobody and worrying about making friends. But those worries dissipated when I met the people there.
Although it may have been the twang in my accent, I was shocked at the number of people who were interested in where I was coming from, why, what I enjoyed, and so on. Whether I was getting to know the lay of the school, Scottish culture, or trying to decrypt a Scottish accent (acquiring one myself was never on the bucket list), people were so warm and welcoming. I can say that many of the friendships I have here will stick for life. I spent my most important teenage years in Robert Gordon’s College. I was surrounded with people who were so authentically themselves, it allowed me to feel more settled in, especially knowing that we wouldn’t be packing up and moving anywhere again.
Robert Gordon’s College had the opportunities available for me to really find out what I was interested in. It took time to understand how the curriculum and future pathway preparation worked, but with the sea of subjects I got to try, it felt easy once I knew what I wanted to pursue. Once society returned to normal after COVID, only then did I really see Robert Gordon’s flourish. I got to compete in swimming and netball, and take Mandarin; hobbies that I loved dearly when I lived in Australia, which I enjoyed being able to continue. I witnessed my first Founder’s Day, prizegiving, rugby game, and more, and I started to truly appreciate where I was in the world.
I remember in S5, sitting in the car with my dad and mentioning an assembly we had for leadership positions, and how I might try for this ‘School Captain’ position. Fast forward a few months and I was ecstatic to receive an offer for it. I was delighted for the opportunity to give back to a school that gave me a sense of belonging after shuffling around the world every few years. With Robert Gordon’s College’s help, I was able to work towards personal goals: sport, music, a successful application into my top choice university, and more. There is a world of support from staff and students.
My biggest piece of advice to those moving schools, especially from abroad, is that even though it may not feel like it at the start, it’s a reward in itself. It’s an experience not everyone can say they have, and you should use your multicultural understanding, resilience, and adaptability to connect with others and embrace the change in your life. Remember, you will be pleasantly surprised.
Are you ready to begin your own journey? Join Robert Gordon's College at the next Open Event on Friday 14 March 2025 and discover more about the Robert Gordon’s experience.