NCS

This summer I worked as a volunteer for the National Citizen Service, which I also took part in last year as a participant rather than a member of staff. We had a week-long residential in Gilwern and then Greenwich University. I found there are certainly more challenges when working as a staff member, however it was a role that I did enjoy. I enjoyed feeling a part of a team bigger than the participant group, I felt privileged to be included in staff meetings and it was great to only have to share a room with one other staff member with the added luxury of mugs and a kettle in the room. I must admit though that when it came to having to speak to participants because they were misbehaving or the like it was difficult, but otherwise the general vibe of encouragement and pushing them to do the very best was one of my favourite parts of the role. Watching some of the participants start off as very introverted or shy and then blossom into more confident and social people was a joy, and all of this while everyone (staff included) were having the time of their lives doing canoeing, rock climbing and caving.

Views from the mountain we all climbed

Fellow staff member winning group game of splat

Group campfire at the end of the week

The Canteen at Christmas

Last week the whole school was feeling festive with most people wearing amazing Christmas jumpers (I unfortunately did not have one to wear but improvised with a tinsel scarf, making me look a little bit like a Christmas tree). My friend and I were still helping out on the tills during break, though.

I am one of five canteen prefects in the school and we all thoroughly enjoy helping them out. I personally help in the snack shacks during Monday and Tuesday lunchtimes and also in the canteen during Thursday and Friday breaks. 

It can get so hectic at times that you don't even know what's 5p and what's 50p but we manage somehow. I love helping in the canteen because I get to see behind what makes everything work and you really feel like a part of the team. I have made stronger friends in my fellow prefects and made new friends in the canteen staff. I never imagined how much I'd enjoy it when I initially wrote my name down on a sign-up sheet. I think I've become more responsible as after all you are handling money and it feels good knowing that people trust you to do these kinds of jobs. 

Overall I like the responsibility that the role gives me and I do really enjoy myself as I'm doing something new that I never expected myself doing, I'm learning and dealing with the pressures that it throws at you every day and I'm having fun as well.

- Jess