Message from the Head of Secondary

You might have seen the trend going around - “If I could tell my younger self one thing…” - a moment to reflect, to offer advice we wish we’d heard earlier, or to remind ourselves of what truly matters.

As students prepare to cross some of the biggest milestones in school life, it feels like the perfect time to pause and join in that conversation. But it’s not just our students who are preparing — so are we, as parents. These milestones don’t just belong to them. We’re living every part of it too: the anticipation, the pride, the nerves, and the quiet hopes. Sometimes, it’s the hardest thing in the world — to watch them take these big steps, to stay strong when they wobble, to let go just a little more. It’s a milestone for us as much as it is for them — and we’re walking it together.

So, if we could speak to our younger selves — or even just to our current selves in moments of doubt — here’s what we might say:

"You don’t need to have it all figured out."

"You don’t need to know exactly where you’re going, or what comes next. What matters more is how you show up along the way — with kindness, curiosity, and courage."

"Mistakes? They won’t break you — they’ll shape you. The hard moments will pass, and the lessons will stay. Comparison steals joy, so walk your path proudly — it is yours, and it is enough."

We’d remind ourselves (and each other) to celebrate the small wins. To laugh more. To worry less. To trust that, even when things feel uncertain, we are still becoming exactly who we’re meant to be.

And maybe most importantly: "You are more capable than you realise. You always have been."

If your future self could speak to you now — whether you’re a student or a parent — they’d probably say this:

"Keep going. You’ve got this.
You always have!"

Aine McGlue

Head of Secondary

Return to the newsletter