1. Name
Siân Pledger
2. Current Occupation
Gap year - Full time athlete in Malta and part time gym
instructor
3. Favourite subject at school
Geography
4. Best & worst memories of school days
Best - The many fun filled school trips: the field
trips in sixth form where we had lots of giggles and ended up
soaking wet and up to our knees in bog and much more! Also the ski
trips where I made lots of new friends and enjoyed seeing different
countries. The concert we did in my last year at the Bridgewater
Hall was also a very special occasion to me.
Worst - Lunch time lessons - these were lessons we used
to have in the first half of lunch where you were so hungry you
couldn't concentrate (they don't have these any more - lucky!). The
exams too of course!
5. What or who inspired you to follow your
career?
Many people have inspired me to follow my dream career.
Professional athletes give me someone to look up to and to aspire
to be like them, for example, Denise Lewis was my first heroine.
Watching her win her gold at the 2000 Olympics was the first time I
realised I wanted to be an athlete and win medals and break
records. My mentors also help me a lot as they have been where I
want to be so they fully understand what I am going through. My
coach, family and friends play a huge role in inspiring me, giving
me the support I need and following me on the ups and downs of an
athletes' rollercoaster. And last but not least, my
school were always telling us how we have to go out and get what we
want and let nothing stand in our way.
6. What do you feel you gained by attending a girls'
school only?
I gained a lot of confidence going to a girls' school as I could
grow up and be myself without any pressure from the boys being
around all the time. It allowed me to make strong and long lasting
friendships that may have otherwise been disrupted due to boy
problems during school life. It also helps in lessons as the
teachers can focus the lessons more to appeal to girls rather than
having to appeal to both girls and boys; I feel this helps you
understand the concepts quicker and in more depth.
7. Any advice for parents choosing a school for their
daughter?
You need to look at all aspects of the school, music and sport
as well as the academic side as these areas are just as important.
You also need to choose a school that suits your daughter; it may
not be where all her friends are going but don't worry as I didn't
know anyone when I went to Bolton School but I quickly made friends
and settled in. However, you need to make sure your daughter is
happy with the decision of where to go as the school years are very
important and choosing the right school can either make them some
of the happiest or worst years of their life
I think it is important that if you do decide to send your
daughter to a girls' school that they have contact with boys out of
school as this is important as part of social maturity. At my
school there were opportunities to mix with the boys on certain
trips and extra curricular activities such as the ski trips and
many musical groups.
8. Any advice for girls planning their university and/or
career choices?
Go with the subjects that you enjoy and don't worry if you don't
know what you want to be at the end of university! If you decide to
go to university make sure you research the universities themselves
and also the course very carefully to find the right one for you.
From my experience I would say don't go to university for the sake
of it or because that's "what everyone does" because it isn't for
everyone, there are plenty of other options: apprenticeships or
studying at a later date. If you do decide to have a gap year make
sure it's productive, you have fun and that it doesn't just waste
away.
9. Any other comments you would like to
make?
Never ever give up on your dreams: the path won't be smooth or
easy and there will be many mountains to climb but keep your goal
in mind and stay positive and you WILL achieve your dream if you
want it enough.
Live life positively and with a smile : )
Read Sian's blog of
her life in Malta