In the lead-up to her exams, Olivia was diagnosed with dyspraxia, a condition that affects movement and co-ordination, a challenge that could have been a setback but instead became a turning point.
With support from her guidance teacher, subject teachers, and the support for learning team, she was able to navigate this new way of learning. Taking full advantage of the wrap-around support and drop-in subject revision sessions, Olivia was able to raise her prelim grades to As, a true reflection of her determination and resilience.
Talking about her experience of navigating a new way of learning, Olivia shared: “While the diagnosis presented new challenges, I received exceptional support from my guidance teacher, subject teachers, and the support for learning team, who ensured my needs were accommodated. Their help, along with my own determination, enabled me to achieve the results I worked so hard for. I also took advantage of additional revision sessions at school, particularly in Physics and Chemistry, which played an important role in raising my prelim grades to As.
Olivia Smith
“This year, I sat my National 5s and achieved eight A grades. I was also highly commended in the Beyond Srebrenica National Schools Competition, which led to an invitation to join a delegation visiting Srebrenica in Bosnia this October. Next year, I will begin my Highers with the aim of studying International Relations at the University of St Andrews.
“Balancing my academic work with playing competitive hockey has been rewarding. It gives me a break from studying and helps me stay focused. I play goalkeeper for my school, club, and Brave, the national performance pathway. In July, I attended the St Andrews Performance Hockey Camp, where I spent the week working with a specialist goalkeeper coach and other top-level coaches. The camp also gave me valuable insight into life at the University of St Andrews and reaffirmed my ambition to study there.”
After joining Robert Gordon’s College for her senior education and developing a love for hockey in S1 through the co-curricular programme, Olivia is now looking forward to continuing her competitive hockey experience through school, Gordonians Hockey Club, and the Eastern Lightning Emerging Girls team for the Brave Cup while balancing her Higher studies in English, Mathematics, History, Modern Studies, and Economics. Good luck to Olivia as she competes this weekend at Glasgow National Hockey Centre and Peffermill Playing Fields!