Hayes Alumni

What was your favourite subject at Hayes School and why?

Sociology was my favourite subject at Hayes. The course was incredibly stimulating – you learn about what really affects your day-to-day life, from family and education to media and the criminal justice system. The teaching in the department was fantastic, too. My English teacher during GCSE, Mrs Beattie, got me to love English, and in the languages department, French was my favourite to learn, as my teacher, Mr Jourzac, was passionate about us all mastering the French language, and pushing us to succeed.

What have you done since leaving Hayes School?

I’m currently in my final year of studying French, Spanish and Italian at The University of Birmingham. I love my course, even though it’s challenging, as it has enabled me to live in three countries (France, Spain and Italy) and learn so much more than grammar and written skills. I’ve also worked in various part-time roles alongside studying, and I interned at Penguin Random House in London over summer, and currently translate articles voluntarily for www.erasmusu.com, an Erasmus website for students.

What has been your greatest achievement in life and how did your experience at Hayes School help you to achieve other successes?

In terms of courage, I would say moving abroad to three countries in a year was a big achievement for me, as I had to adapt to university life and the culture, as well as finding my own place to live – but I was lucky to have friends with me, so it wasn’t so daunting. My biggest achievement, I would say, was interning at Penguin Random House this summer in London. I would say Hayes helped me to just go for what I want – as a Hayes student, you were pushed to succeed in whatever you do, and hope for the best, so that’s what I’ve done.

What one piece of advice would you give to current students?

Don’t worry about the future too much – if you want to go to university, apply for a course you really want to study, and make sure you visit the campus to see if it’s for you. If you don’t want to go to university, there are thousands of opportunities, from working abroad and volunteering, to school leaver schemes and apprenticeships. Whilst you’re at school, though, try and throw yourself into anything and everything – try a sport, volunteer, get a job – once you’ve done something new, you’ll be able to conquer whatever comes next.

What's your next big goal?

Well, I’m hoping to graduate this year, and then, I’m hoping to work in publishing. I still love languages, so I’d like to hold free language classes in Bromley for students (primary and secondary), as there aren’t enough people in the UK learning different languages, and it’s amazing how many opportunities you find, and how many people you meet when you learn them!

What was your favourite subject at Hayes School and why?

Business Studies, It was the subject I enjoyed the most and the one I obtained my best marks in. It was always easy to relate to the real world. It was also the subject that I built the greatest rapport with the teachers.

What have you done since leaving Hayes School?

Completed a Business Studies degree from the University of Kent, with a year in Industry, passing through with a 2:1. Travelled Australia for 3 months, and I am now half way through my ACCA accountancy qualification, and currently in my 4th year of employment with J O Hambro Capital management group, a small boutique investment management firm in Mayfair, London.

What has been your greatest achievement in life and how did your experience at Hayes School help you to achieve other successes?

I recently purchased a 3 bedroom semi detached house in the Bromley Borough. Thanks to my achievement at Hayes School, I was able to proceed to a reputable University, which provided me with a well recognised degree and the opportunity to secure the job I am still doing today. As a result I now earn enough money to put a deposit on a house as well as pay a mortgage plus bills each month, and still travel on nice holidays every year.

What one piece of advice would you give to current students?

Work hard at your GCSE’s / A levels, because they really do map out the pathway you take towards your future career. But additionally enjoy your days at Hayes, your surrounded by your good friends everyday! And once you all leave and go your separate ways you see less of the friends you once did, and finally you may think 8:30 to 3:00 is a long day now, but when you work full time 5 days a week you will wish you could be back at school! You will never have as much free time as you do in your school years, so make the most of it!

What's your next big goal?

To complete my ACCA accountancy qualification and become a fully professionally qualified ACCA accountant.

What was your favourite subject at Hayes School and why?

Business Studies. I couldn’t wait until year 10 when I was allowed to take it up as a GCSE subject. My dad has made his living working for himself in distribution, and growing up I had decided from a young age that I wanted to be in a position to work for myself and create a business. Business studies was my first real taste of learning all the theory behind what that might entail one day. I also enjoyed science… and despite what you might think, you do use a lot of what you get taught in basic day to day life!

What have you done since leaving Hayes School?

Immediately after leaving Hayes, I was given a place at City University, to study Business Management at the Cass Business School. Initially I enjoyed it, and took up an extra credit class of European Business law, which I found fascinating. However, by Christmas I had decided that University life wasn’t for me. City was a brilliant university with fantastic lecturers and facilities, but I was keen to work and experience first hand what it took to nurture an idea and create a business. I started by working for my dads company, as a sales assistant and today I am a managing partner of his business, plus I have created two further businesses which all operate alongside one another to handle different channels of supply and distribution of DIY products from the USA into the UK.

What has been your greatest achievement in life and how did your experience at Hayes School help you to achieve other successes?

I hope that my biggest achievement in life is yet to come. However I believe I’ve had a number of ‘big achievements’ in my career already so far, which is all relative to me personally. As anyone who’s started a business will tell you, it comes with a lot of obstacles, you need to be determined, and work hard to achieve your goals, but also you need to lay the foundation of the business first which quite often can be the hardest and therefore most satisfying part. So, because of that your achievements become things like, making your first profit, paying your first staff wages bill, maintaining the determination to get up in the morning when everything seems to be going wrong! But in actual terms, I suppose one of my biggest achievements was getting my first product into a High street retailer (Argos). After a lot of work selling the item, and then navigating the EU laws of compliance, EU regulations on imported goods from China, and then also being involved in the design and format of the marketing materials, it was a great sense of pride seeing the product in the catalogue for the first time!

What one piece of advice would you give to current students?

Learn to accept help when you need it. It’s great to have determination, and be driven to try and achieve things on your own, but there’s lots you don’t know or fully understand. Even when you’re older and have more experience, there will always be things you don’t have full knowledge or understanding of and it doesn’t make you inadequate or stupid if you ask for help. What is stupid, is letting your ego get in the way of achieving your goal.

What's your next big goal?

I’d like to see my products in more retailers across the UK and Europe, and turn my product into a household brand. In the meantime, I’ll hope to still make a profit, pay the bills and get up for work in the morning!

What was your favourite subject at Hayes School and why?

My favourite subject at school was Physics. Physics always fascinated me, more specifically astrophysics and planetary physics. I had some great teachers who not only taught great content but made it fun to do so. They inspired me so much I went on to study Physics at university.

What have you done since leaving Hayes School?

I completed a Bachelors degree in Astronomy, Space Science and Astrophysics and then went back to university for an MSc in Computer Science. Whilst there, I found I really enjoyed coding. After my MSc, I had a few jobs working for others as a Web Developer and Web Analyst, but decided that I would enjoy it a lot more if I worked for myself so I founded my company 9 Digit Development, a Web Design, Development and Digital Analytics agency.

What has been your greatest achievement in life and how did your experience at Hayes School help you to achieve other successes?

My biggest achievement would probably be founding my own company. I believe it would not be possible if it wasn’t for Hayes. If I had gone to a different school, I believe my life would be completely different, and I like where I am. I am still in contact with people from Hayes and some great things have come from that. My time at Hayes, and the people at Hayes, made me who I am, and I thank them for it.

What one piece of advice would you give to current students?

Follow your dreams, and when you catch them, hold on and don’t let go.

What's your next big goal?

Publish my debut fantasy novel.