Sunday 5th September 2010
Submitted by Eleanor Silk (2001-2006)
"I think my most clear memory of my time at Hanford is actually my very first early morning ride. I remember I was in the dorm White with two other girls and we tried especially hard for a few nights to not talk at all and eventually we were awoken early and told to get into jodphurs. At this point in my Hanford life I couldn't ride particularly well so two of us were led through the golden maize field as the sun arose in the morning sky. I distinctly remember seeing two deer joyfully leaping through the vase expanse of field. This memory will always stay with me as it completely sums up Hanford for me. I mean what other school would allow you up early just to ride in the early morning for the simple reason that it was a beautiful time of day to ride?
Since I have left Hanford I have realised how many valuable lessons I learnt there. The most obvious lesson I learnt was my everlasting love and respect of animals and how much pleasure they can bring us. I learnt the invaluable lesson of how to learn to live with who you are with and how to live as a family. I learnt a great deal about caring for others from how well I was cared for by others in my time there. It wasn't until I left Hanford that I realised how much it has given to me, it has taught me all these lessons that whilst I was there I never realised the importance of. However, I think the most important lesson I learnt was how to give and receive in return, I found out through my years there that how much I put in to my school life was how much I got out of my time there....
I am now at Canford and about to take my GCSE's this year. Work is fine and I am still enjoying sport just as much as I am my riding as well. however, this year ?I have started taking a real interest in trampolining and I now coach younger years one afternoon a week and I do a club one night a week. This has been a really good experience and I am looking at working with children in the future."
"I think my most clear memory of my time at Hanford is actually my very first early morning ride. I remember I was in the dorm White with two other girls and we tried especially hard for a few nights to not talk at all and eventually we were awoken early and told to get into jodphurs. At this point in my Hanford life I couldn't ride particularly well so two of us were led through the golden maize field as the sun arose in the morning sky. I distinctly remember seeing two deer joyfully leaping through the vase expanse of field. This memory will always stay with me as it completely sums up Hanford for me. I mean what other school would allow you up early just to ride in the early morning for the simple reason that it was a beautiful time of day to ride?
Since I have left Hanford I have realised how many valuable lessons I learnt there. The most obvious lesson I learnt was my everlasting love and respect of animals and how much pleasure they can bring us. I learnt the invaluable lesson of how to learn to live with who you are with and how to live as a family. I learnt a great deal about caring for others from how well I was cared for by others in my time there. It wasn't until I left Hanford that I realised how much it has given to me, it has taught me all these lessons that whilst I was there I never realised the importance of. However, I think the most important lesson I learnt was how to give and receive in return, I found out through my years there that how much I put in to my school life was how much I got out of my time there....
I am now at Canford and about to take my GCSE's this year. Work is fine and I am still enjoying sport just as much as I am my riding as well. however, this year ?I have started taking a real interest in trampolining and I now coach younger years one afternoon a week and I do a club one night a week. This has been a really good experience and I am looking at working with children in the future."
