Going for Gold!

 By Miss S. Wire  (PGCE 2010). 

This was me when I was in 6th Form on my GOLD Duke of Edinburgh's expedition.

"I think people that knew me were all a little surprised when I told them I had been recruited by my friend into her expedition group; I didn’t really like P.E. much and hated getting wet and muddy.

But looking back I suppose I was ready for a bit of a challenge, and I think I thought ‘What’s the worst that can happen? I can always give it up if I don’t like it!’  However I didn’t give it up – in fact I loved it.  I went on to do my Gold expedition, and I’m still very proud of that.

I learnt that in fact scary things can happen when you’re up mountains or anywhere miles from civilisation. Of course, they probably won’t happen as long as you’re careful, but that was part of what made being on expedition so exciting.  

It wasn’t easy but, as a team, we got pitching our tents and cooking amazing pasta meals on a Trangia camping stove down to a fine art;  not to mention the washing up afterwards! I also discovered a love of the great outdoors;  especially the views and the sounds when you are miles from other people. I saw the stars in a way that you never can from a built-up area.  I also found that in fact I can read a map, and I really do like to be fit and active.

These are things that have stayed with me ever since. It turned out that being a bit wet and muddy was a small price to pay for the sense of satisfaction of succeeding in something so challenging, and my mum still likes to reminisce about how she couldn’t even pick up my rucksack when she tried to put it in the car.”

Miss S. Wire (2010)