Gracie Eastwood | Year 13 Student, DESC

Saying goodbye to your school years is never an easy task. For some, it's liberating, whilst for others, it's an overwhelming period
that solidifies the uncertainty of what's to come. But as the Class of 2022 say goodbye, one thing is for certain, it is this chapter of our lives which will prove unforgettable - through all the highs, and the lows, of our formative years. Whilst some may have joined the College in Sixth Form, others, like me, have had the pleasure of being a student at DESSC for over 14 years.

Growth is inevitable, but for many of us, we owe a large degree of our character to our experiences at DESSC, and for that, I will always be grateful. I started at DESS in 2008, when I was just four years old. I had just moved to Dubai from a small town in England, excited at the simplistic prospect of making new friends and spending time in the sun on the weekends. For my parents, the value of the education that I would receive was irrefutable, but whilst this has been integral to my attitude towards learning and my proceeding gratitude, it has been the little moments that have proven to be the cornerstone of my appreciation. The relationships that I have built over the years have been indispensable to my growth, and as Year 13 draws to a close, they are a facet of reflection that have forced me to recognise the value that DESSC holds both in, and out, of the conventionality of education.

From gathering in a circle to sing songs with our teacher on his guitar in Year One, to swim galas and sports events, school plays and dress up days, the competitive spirit and drive to flourish that was always encouraged never fell short of the importance of friendship, of working hard, and of cheering each other on down every avenue - no matter the circumstance. This school values more than just grades on a sheet of paper or trophies on our shelves. It promotes a student body of caring characters who are well-rounded yet humble, supporting one another every step of the way.

Growing up in Dubai, it can often feel like we are in a constant state of flux and instability, with students and teachers coming and going as each year passes by. With that, though, comes a degree of more than just tolerance, with an international community of different languages, religions, and cultures promoting a level of diversity that is unparalleled in its value. I have kept in contact with many of the individuals that I have met along the way, and it is our memories at DESS, or DESC, that serve as the foundation of our enduring bond. School is not always easy, and as quickly as college came around the corner, so has university.

Here at DESC, we have always been reminded of not only the importance of studying, but of taking time to ourselves. Most recently, I, like many others, have learned that the level of satisfaction that we feel, whether that be in terms of grades, or otherwise, should never be the be-all and end-all of our sense of achievement. Throughout our GCSEs and further qualifications, there has been more to learn than what fills the pages of our textbooks. We have learned how to respond to adversity, how to manage our time, and how to retain a sense of positivity throughout our most stressful periods. It is these attributes that will propel us into the joys, and turbulences of adulthood, and I cannot wait to look back on these pages in future years with an awareness of just how much each of us will have gone on to achieve.

Success is subjective, and it is up to you to decide what constitutes it. But regardless of whether you feel as though you have it all figured out, what I know for certain, is that DESC has equipped us with the tools that we need to accomplish all that we set out to. I truly wish everybody the best of luck, but most importantly, I will miss this school immensely.