Commendation Pupil Mariella Talks About the Value of Kindness and Trying Hard

Mariella, recognised at a termly Commendation Lunch for her great start to the academic year, is also a talented participant in our LAMDA programme. Mariella started LAMDA when she joined Sedbergh’s Prep School in year 5 and has really enjoyed it, she hopes to reach the higher grades and credits it with having helped her to become a confident speaker. Looking back, Mariella remembers that the most challenging thing about moving from the Prep School to the senior school was that the Senior School is obviously so much bigger, “It’s all spread out and it took me time to learn how to find everything.”

Now in Year 9 Mariella is enthusiastic about how much she loves Senior School – her favourite moment being performing in the School’s production of Grease (November 2023). Mariella says that she’s looking forward to GCSEs next year because she can do more of the subjects that she likes most, like art, for example, “This year I can only do one lesson of art, but next year I can do more.”

I’m most excited about history this year. At the Senior School I’ve really discovered that I like history, History is a new interest for me.

My top ambition for the rest of the year is to stay focused. I don’t like it when I can’t be focused. I’ve always been a really organised person and I like to do really well at exams – I always try hard. Also, my teachers are all really kind and helpful when you’ve got a problem or something that you can’t work out.

I’ve really enjoyed making new friends at Senior School. There are lots of opportunities to meet new people – in your year, in LAMDA, in sports, in the house. There were a lot of people here too from prep school.

The School value that I identify with most is kindness because if you want to be friends with someone then you’ve got to be kind.

Mariella’s journey from Prep to Senior School is marked by growth and enthusiasm, with exciting prospects ahead for her GCSEs.