As I am approaching the end of my time at Wimbledon before venturing off into the scary world of adulthood, I’ve been reflecting back on all my precious memories I have. Some fun, some nostalgic, and some I’d rather not think about. As someone who has been here for almost 14 years, this school is dear to my heart. I feel I am in a good position to describe certain canon events that most of you will have faced, or will in your future years here. I’ll be ranking them from worst to best, in terms of how fond of a memory they are, or for how much you’d have to pay me to relive them (kidding). I promise there’s some happy events in there too!
Running to the lunch queue
This daily sprint should be a qualifier for the Olympics. Having participated in this but also had the misfortune to desperately try to manage the waves of hangry students fighting to get in, I am happy to say goodbye to this daily occurrence. On top of this, some of the meticulously crafted stories to get in early are honestly impressive. You guysshould go into politics!
11+ exams
This is one shared trauma I don’t think anyone has fully gotten over. If you joined the school later on, you’re lucky to have skipped this one. Though this exam was very long ago for me, I still remember the chorus of chattering teeth and sea of fear-stricken faces waiting outside the exam hall.
The great cancelling
You might have said something controversial on the year group WhatsApp, or maybe you didn’t share your homework with someone else. Whatever it may be, you’ve officially been cancelled. This one hurts – the cold shoulder, the serious discussions aside. But don’t worry, without a doubt it will be forgotten by next week.
DofE
DofE has this magic of making you forget how awful it can be once you finish it. Signing up for the next one always seems like a good idea. Though low down on the list, I am a fan of DofE, having done all of the qualifications. Something about walking until your feet fall off and eating mushy beans out of a packet really appeals to our young, naive minds. Don’t let this put you off, it’s a really fun team-building experience and, at the least, a memory with many, many funny stories to tell.
Whole school emails
Receiving the wave of emails about lost pencil grips or DT GCSE forms is sure to evoke a grimace from anyone. I’msure you were all suitably peeved by my Book Swap spam. However, I personally think that sending a whole school email is where it really gets scary. Even worse – you might have to send it to staff too. Personally, my hands start to shake as I inch closer to the send button. That being said, I don’t think Year 7s with lost keychains feel the same fear I do.
Sports day
Whilst few complain about a day off from lessons, this event can vary in success by the year. For example, last year we had the misfortune to be heavily rained on, making the day rather underwhelming. But overall, this has the potential to be a fun day of yap with your friends whilst getting to see a few teachers make a fool of themselves (and I guess doing some sport?).
Reaching Sixth Form
The dreaded days of itchy jumpers and phone lockers are over! Stepping into Year 12 gives you an indescribableconfidence. You’re treated almost like an adult, you’re free to eat out, and you can finally d̶r̶o̶p̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶s̶e̶ ̶p̶e̶s̶k̶y̶ ̶s̶u̶b̶j̶e̶c̶t̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶h̶a̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶G̶C̶S̶E̶s̶ focus in on your passions. I will always advocate that the Sixth form is the best part of the school. The facilities, support and general vibe are unmatched.
Christmas assembly
This event is heartwarming at the least. Seeing both the youngest and oldest pupils give their most enthusiastic performances in the 12 Days of Christmas song will both make you laugh and put you in the festive spirit. This might be one of the few assemblies that you willingly would attend. Kidding! (kind of)
School trips
Completely underrated. Whether it’s a day trip to Spitalfields or a long-haul flight to Japan, you’re guaranteed to have so much fun. It’s a great opportunity to get closer with people you may not have talked to otherwise whilst learning a lot about a new place or doing silly activities. My favourite was either the geography trip to Iceland or the Spanish trip to Granada!
Jokes aside, I have really appreciated my years at Wimbledon High and I have SO many fond memories. I hope you could have a chuckle whilst thinking about some of the funny things about our school! Have a great half term 🙂
