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From One of You: A letter of reflection to the current generation of Globe students

Ark Globe Academy Awards 2025

Returning to back to where the vision began

I had the honour of being invited back to Globe Academy – as an alumna and Globe Academy Award winner to attend the Globe Academy Awards 2025, celebrating some truly outstanding students and talent.

I was invited to give a speech to the awarding students, and although I only had time to share a shortened version on the night, I wanted to share the full version here, in all its glory. This speech is a message I thought would be useful to be reminded of if I was in there position.


This Current Period

For many it is currently a time of transition some of you are going to be heading to the next year and others to university, or straight to work , regardless the next academic year you will be faced with new opportunities, new lessons, new goals, new rewards, new obstacles and as someone who has been through all the periods of transitions you can go through with Globe Academy, Iโ€™m going to share what we allowed me to flourish when I was in your positions.

You are a collective

My biggest hope is that you donโ€™t forget to help your peers. There were times in my Business class, when we were completing coursework I remember sitting with my peers and supporting them when I completed mine, and them to me whenever I was stuck on something. There were times where there was two of us helping one student, we had each others back. We understood we were a collective; creating an environment of trust and genuine support made us a lot happier, we had bigger dreams, we had bigger goals, we had a lot of confidence in ourselves. Because it wasnโ€™t a competition, we wanted to see each other win So to the class of 2025 when you can, offer help, when you can, donโ€™t be afraid to ask for help.

Stay ambitious!

I love being ambitious and proving myself right. No human invention was ever created by someone who believed there was a ceiling to what could be achieved.

If I had aimed for a MMM, or a CCC, or a Level 4 thatโ€™s probably all I wouldโ€™ve gotten. But because I set my sights on Distinction Stars across the board โ€“ A*A*A*. I had to think differently. I had to ask myself: What would it actually take to get there?

That ambition forced me to raise my standards. And even if I didnโ€™t hit the exact mark, I knew Iโ€™d get closer to it than I ever wouldโ€™ve if I hadnโ€™t aimed that high in the first place.

The journey wonโ€™t always be easy, but thereโ€™s nothing more fulfilling than achieving your biggest goals.

But itโ€™s easier to be ambitious when you have a clear vision

What Makes Globe Academy Special: VISION

Itโ€™s easier to stay ambitious when you have a clear vision.

Vision, is about seeing yourself in positions you may not have seen yourself in. When I failed the year, I overcame that letdown by visualising what success would now look like. I had a clear image of progress:

โ€“ Where I would sit to study
โ€“ What materials I used to study
โ€“ What I was wearing
โ€“ What time of day it was

That clarity helped me move forward.

And thatโ€™s one of the most special things about Globeโ€”the unspoken relationship it has with vision. Itโ€™s part of the culture.

There was a time when going to university wasnโ€™t seen as a normal stepโ€”but at Globe, it is. And Iโ€™m especially grateful to Mr Jones for the corporate partnerships that helped us get there.

Because of those connections, I had experiences with Bloomberg, Capgemini, Bouygues UK, EY, Subject focused conferences, summer schools, tutors through The Access Project, coaches through CoachBright- even theatre trips. When I was younger, I thought theatre was basically the cinemaโ€ฆ but for rich people.

Globe brought success into sight. It made professional success feel close, feel like it was a matter of when not if.

Weโ€™re 20 minutes away from some of the biggest companies in the world – yet, we didnโ€™t see ourselves in those spaces for a long time.

Iโ€™m grateful for the proactivity of the sixth form team-Ms Barcinska, Ms Baldwin, Ms Donachy -and for a principal who always mirrored professionalism. The kind of principal who shook our hands firmly and treated us like adults capable of great things. So when it came time to enter interviews or corporate environments, we knew how to carry ourselves with confidence.

Because of all this, I never had impostor syndrome – not at my Russell Group university, not at Bloomberg, not at the Crown Estate, not at British Land, and not even when I walked into a theatre performance space I never imagined Iโ€™d belong in.

Even when I failed my year, I overcame it by visualising the version of me who didnโ€™t.
Even now, when I doubt myself, I visualise the version of me who doesnโ€™t.

Vision is one of the keys to success.
And Globe has imbedded in me.

Thank You

Thank you to my teachers, Mr Simpson, for believing in our goals, recognising our potential, and nurturing it because you wanted to see us win.

Thank you, Mr Jones, for making the vision clear, for treating us like professionals, and for investing in a culture where we could see ourselves in positions of influence.

Thank you to my peers, for all the encouragement and support throughout the years. I miss you, and Iโ€™m wishing you the best wherever life takes you

So, remember, keep your vision clear, stay grateful, support each other and stay ambitious.

I believe in all of the students and the alumni from the Globe community we were nurtured to be capable, to be leaders, to be change makers. And I have no doubt thatโ€™s exactly who you are becoming.

Wishing you well,

Ester ๐Ÿ’ซ

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Quote Of The Day! ๐Ÿ“”

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music”

Friedrich Nietzsche, German Philosopher

โ€œThe first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are”

Marcus Aurelius Roman Stoic Philosopher, 121 – 180

Quote Of The Day ๐Ÿ“”


โ€œIf it is not right do not do it; if it is not true โ€“ do not say it.โ€

Marcus Aurelius Roman Stoic Philosopher, 121 – 180

Quote Of The Day ๐Ÿ“”

Writer’s Block ๐Ÿ˜ข

Good evening! Unfortunately, I’ve been struggling to come up with topics to talk about. In these last few blog posts, I did the best I could to deliver humorous and helpful reads but they lacked intention. Which contradicts what &Eunoia values. Consistency is key but I would like to prioritise the quality of my writing. To do this, I’m going to take some time to reconsider how I approach what I deliver to you.


If you do have anything you would like to hear for me in the meantime do let me know!

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Take Notice: Mindfulness in Enclosed Spaces

Only the first 30 seconds are played. Open the app in the background to have the full experience. Click on this link for tidal

Taking Notice! Mindfulness programmes are naturally encouraged in an open space, outside where the grass is green, and the birds are chirping but there are times when we donโ€™t have the energy to go outside and in some cases, you may not be in a position to leave an enclosed space, so here is what I do to stay mindful; to reduce stress and attain a moment of calm within closed walls.

Mindfulness Meditation

I know very clichรฉ, I can already hear the sighs; meditation is one of the most well-known activities for better well-being but has often been seen as a waste of time or a bit of a joke. However, mindful meditation during a frantic period or when you are feeling overwhelmed, helps you realise that thoughts come and go on their own accord like clouds and that in itself is empowering.

First, mindfulness meditation is slightly different from what we understand about ‘meditationโ€™.

Concentrative meditation involves focusing on a specific thing while tuning out everything else around you this would be Hollywood’s interpretation of Meditation, which is for instance focusing on a mantra like ‘Oms’ or reciting an affirmation slowly.

Mindful Meditation is about awareness and accepting your environment.

The Benefits of Mediation:

  • Anxiety, depression and irritability all decrease with regular sessions of meditation.
  • Memory improves; reactions times are faster
  • Mental and Physical stamina improves
  • Creativity Increases
  • Regular meditators enjoy better and more fulfilling relationships

Letโ€™s try it now! so focus, breath in, and breathe out slowly. Doing this at a set time daily has proven to have long-term effects on reducing anxiety, and preventing depression and for those who already have depression, it can help with your transition out of it.

Okay so letโ€™s practice:

*Ideally you will be in a quiet area but when there is noise donโ€™t see it as a distraction, accept it

Step 1: Sit Erect

Step 2: Now, focus on the breath, focus on your inhale and your exhale steadily and keep this up (when your mind wanders, gently and slowly bring your attention back)

Step 3: Keep this up for 2 minutes

You will slowly get the hang of it and adjust how long you will want to meditate.

Clearing Myths about meditation:

Okay, about meditation; referencing the words of Mark Williams and Danny Penman:

  1. Itโ€™s not about becoming lazy, deadening your mind or accepting the unacceptable, it’s about providing greater clarity- spotting negative patterns and putting you back in control to make more considered decisions to change what needs to be changed
  2. There is no failure or success, it can be difficult but just trying is already a good step
  3. Patience and persistence are required but meditation liberates you from the pressure of time

I sincerely recommend their book: Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a frantic world. Their book provides a practical guide for practising mindfulness based on Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and is suitable for people who don’t have a particular emotional or mental disorder. This book really opened my eyes when I was feeling overwhelmed and incapable of moving away from destructive emotions. A true beginner’s guide to putting a stop to obsessive negative cycles.

For those who may need more help one of the co-authors of mindfulness, co-wrote a book called: The Mindful Way through Depression. Both books have gotten positive feedback, you might want to check them out.

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Diary Entries

Journalling, is another well-known activity for health and wellness and there are two types:

  • Expressive writing: journalling your innermost feelings and thoughts; focusing on the experience.
  • Gratitude journaling: focusing on the positive aspects of life by capturing situations, events, and interactions for which you are grateful.

The Benefits of Journalling run far and wide and I don’t want to bore you with endless facts, so here are a few:

  • Reducing anxiety
  • Breaking away from a nonstop cycle of obsessive thinking and brooding
  • Improving the awareness and perception of events
  • Regulating emotions
  • Encouraging awareness
  • Boosting physical health

You do not have to restrict yourself to traditional journalling (writing in a notebook), you can also type in a digital notepad or voice record on your phone, whatever works for you. The most important point is that you feel safe and comfortable doing the activity.

Privacy:

I had an old friend find my diary and just read a page out of my book before so I definitely recommend thinking of ways to make sure your diary logs remain private. Unless you’re leaving your thoughts to be passed down like Marcus Aurelius I would encourage you to maybe purchase a book with a padlock.

Open-up Your Senses

This builds a sense of awareness which is necessary when you numb yourself from the sometimes suffocating feeling of an enclosed space, it’s up to you to decide what you do with this feeling so that it is not prolonged (now that you have noticed).

  • Sight: State 3 things you see around you that vary in distance
  • Smell: What does your environment smell like (if you have an odour you should probably take a shower, it will make you feel better, trust me)
  • Taste: Are you eating something? what does it taste like? (if your mouth is kind of bitter and youโ€™re not eating, you should probably brush your teeth)
  • Touch: Touch some fabric and then touch the skin on your face, notice the difference
  • Sound: Concentrate and in your head (or out loud if you want) describe 3 things you hear around you 

Opening up/ activating your senses is about grounding yourself in the moment- this is an exercise that is helpful when you are feeling overwhelmed.

Time Management Games/ Hobbies

Time management tasks are not supposed to make you feel rushed or competitive. The goal is to use your patience to focus on a particular task to achieve a desired outcome. Some of the main causes of stress are when your input doesnโ€™t give you your aspired output, where the actual self is far from your ideal self. Itโ€™s the worst feeling ever :/

Time management activities can help take some pressure off yourself mentally and physically and make you feel a sense of accomplishment when youโ€™re feeling overwhelmed by negative emotions/moods. Some examples of some Time management tasks :

  • Washing the dishes
  • Jigsaw Puzzles: I prefer pictures that are not repetitive in pattern and shades of colour (I saw a jigsaw puzzle online and the image was a wave; imagine trying to differentiate between 2-3 shades of blue and some white pieces, figuring out which goes where for a 1000 piece puzzle! I cry) 
  • Chess: (If you already know how to play) a game that teaches you to have some pace and be mindful of your actions there are various free apps available.
  • Knitting, Sewing or crafting e.g. paper cranes
  • Colouring

A 500 Piece Puzzle I completed recently

If you have any more suggestions let me know; more variety makes it more interesting and less repetitive.

To sum up, there arenโ€™t any chronological steps or regulations for mindfulness it’s all about you being at ease and being present; its as simple as taking a deep breath, just like that and for a second you feel a connection with yourself a connection that grounds you, making you feel in control. With enough consistency, you can feel your anxiety, stress and tension decrease as you set out to do other activities. 

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Welcome to &Eunoia !

I am glad you have stopped by &Eunoia today for many this will be your first time here so I will tell you a little bit about this blog and what my intentions for it are.

Wellbeing is a topic that I feel is too easily dismissed and really shouldn’t be in this day and age. I believe there are not enough spaces for people to comfortably sit down, reflect, asses and take action on improving our wellbeing.

I hope this can be one of those spaces for you to do that.

I intend for this to be a comforting space for people who come from all walks of life to sit down and just take a moment to see what has worked for me and to make you feel the warmth and genuine support I want to give to you. The core values for this blog includes: Awareness; Perspective taking and Independence, with that I want to make it clear this is a wellness and lifestyle blog; which I have based off of the NHS’s 6 ways to wellbeing. The topics I will constantly be covering:

Take Notice: This will mainly focus on mindfulness

Connect: This will mainly have posts abouts relationships including the one we have with ourselves

Give: There’s a lot to say about the power of giving but do expect posts on the topic of receiving

Learn + Discover: Learning new skills can also improve your mental well being; a lot of these posts will surround my personal adventures and reflections on those

Be Active: As someone who is anemic and currently pretty lazy, the discussion will surround proactivity regarding working but reflections and tips when it comes to physical activity

I hope you can take out intentional moments to sit down and have a read; to the side (if your reading this on a PC, if not at the bottom) you will see a calendar that circles all my posts this month if you would like to look back. You will also see a Playlist that I put together as you read, (these songs aren’t mines, all rights go to the original owner, you can see the title and the artist for reference).

Blog Posts will be uploaded every Monday at 8pm ๐Ÿ™‚

I look forward to reading your comments!

Okay, Explore!