Rummana Ali

Hagley has helped me grow into the best version of myself. It’s mostly because of the support. The teachers are always listening, and I know they’ll do anything I ask them. They take in my opinions and feelings and don’t disregard me. With the subjects I’m not so good at, they go out of their way to help me and show me that I can do it. My teachers know that I can put pressure on myself, so they’re always reminding me that I’m doing a good job.

I love that everyone is so different here. Everyone brings different experiences and perspectives. I’m Fijian and my values are different – we are not so open about some things – and my teachers take this into account. They will try another approach, so I don’t feel uncomfortable in certain activities. During Ramadan when I was fasting, the teachers understood that I might find some activities challenging. I’m comfortable talking about my religion here.

I’ve learnt a lot about myself at Hagley. I’ve learnt how to become more independent and to take charge of my learning, because my teachers have shown me that I can handle anything. It’s helped me think about my future. Now I’m thinking about training as a lawyer. I’d love to open a legal Aid organisation that supports people from ethnic communities who need help but can’t afford it.