The question of "why?" is often asked when DofE is discussed. Here are some of my thoughts and experiences as a mum of two Gold Award recipients.
I am not a camping fan, and neither are my daughters, but DofE is not meant to be easy. What is it meant to be, then, and why did I feel it was so important for them to participate?
Evangeline and I have just returned from Buckingham Palace, for her to receive her Gold Award. On the train there were many young people also en route to the Palace, as the organisers try and make one of the dates a "North" day. The couple sitting with us were travelling to go to the Chelsea Flower Show; the gentleman was a senior IT professional. During the chit-chat, he asked what we were travelling for and we told him. His instant reaction was, "That will make the difference between getting a job and not." He said of all of the people he had employed over his professional life, if the employee had Gold DofE, he knew they would be completer finishers, that they would be team players, strong of mind and problem solvers.
On the return, we sat with another couple, and the same conversation started. He said that last week he advertised a job and received 2,700 applicants in the telecommunications industry. He described the process as applications going left or right. Five hundred people didn't have the right qualifications for the role, but of those shortlisted they also had their Gold DofE. "It makes you stand out from the crowd," were his words.
So, if I had any advice to give to an AKS Senior School student thinking of starting, or continuing with, the DofE Award programme, it would be: know it's hard; it's hard for a reason.
Mr Riches and Mr and Mrs Winterflood are great supporters of the scheme and were always able to answer any of my many questions. I am very proud of the fact that the AKS DofE team run the scheme in the way it is meant to be, extolling the virtues of the DofE spirit. Know what's expected and follow. There is no pride in the award if corners have been cut.
If you want to achieve the Gold Award, sign up in the summer before school finishes in Year 11! That way you can be getting on with volunteering and the skill week whilst having a long summer.
Learn a skill that you will enjoy, something that might be connected to the A Levels that you are to study. That way you can use that experience on your CV, or just learn something that you always wanted to do and have a great time.
The expeditions were always the most challenging part for my daughters, but Liberty made some amazing friendships during the expedition, friendships that carried her through Year 13 and beyond. Both Liberty and Evangeline also improved their communication and leadership skills, knowing when to negotiate and when to take a different role in the team. They both have many funny stories of taking wrong turns and putting it right and slips and falls, and ultimately they both have the award.
However, I don't think we'll ever be fans of Scottish midges or ticks!
Then, I look at all the skills learned and think to myself, that would make a great employee!
Mrs Doyle