Cheeho Moon Award holder for Bronze and Silver. Currently completing Gold
Skyela Stevens Award holder for Bronze, Silver and Gold
Swara Shastri Award holder for Bronze and Silver. Currently completing Gold
I have completed all three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh award (DofE). The DofE journey has been something that I will never forget, it provided me with the opportunity to learn new skills, work in new environments and meet new people. I made some of my best friends on DofE. I had always wanted to do Bronze, Silver and Gold and after having completed Bronze I was even more set on doing all the awards as the experience was so amazing. I would say my favorite thing about DofE would have to be the people, they aren’t always going to be people you know and it puts you into a situation where you are able to get to know people very well, very quickly. I also really enjoyed the views we were able to see and sitting around the campfire after a long day. In terms of advice for anyone who might want to do DofE; wear in your boots! The last thing you want is for your feet to be sore whilst hiking. Another thing would be to pack light and use the practice journey to learn from and apply to the final, you’ll be able to tell what works for you and what you might need to change. Oh also... do not forget sunscreen. As someone who has done all of the awards (and might be a bit biased) I would say give at least Bronze a shot for the experience if nothing else and enjoy yourself whilst doing it.
Duke of Edinburgh is a fantastic opportunity to challenge yourself and create new friendships. Being able to adventure out in the wild with like-minded individuals who share your passion for exploration and discovery adds an extra layer of excitement and camaraderie to the experience. For future students completing the DofE Awards, my advice would be to embrace every moment of the journey. Stay committed to your goals, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when needed, whether it’s from your peers or DofE leaders. And most importantly, cherish the friendships you make and the memories you create during this incredible adventure. These bonds forged through shared challenges and triumphs will last a lifetime.
DofE has made an incredible impact on my school life. The whole journey has allowed me to experience many new things and face many challenges that I never thought I would have to take on. Frankly when I first signed up for the Bronze Award, I had no idea that there would be an expedition involved, I just secured my spot and discovered it later on. After the Bronze expedition, I was so determined to never do it again. But when the time came to sign up for the Silver Award, I did not hesitate. I think it was the satisfying aspect of completing all awards and that I had this competitive mindset of finishing what I started properly. I think for me, the most enjoyable part was camping with my teammates. Especially during the Gold Expedition in Nepal. Being together 24/7 allowed us to create these unbreakable bonds and memories that we would never forget. We took care of each other and supported each other. 3 key pieces of advice I would give to future students are: bring tons of sunscreen and blister patches, pack as light as possible and enjoy yourselves.
GEMS WELLINGTON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
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