It all began for me towards the end of the Summer Term 2009. I was taking part in my School Sports Day that day and the D of E Leader of Ysgol Penmaes at the time Hannah Morgan along with one of the staff that was part of the awards scheme in the school had a chat with both my mother and I at the time encouraging me to sign up for as part of my 14-19 Curriculum Option Choices for the whole academic year something that I’d never done before, an awards scheme which involved things I was experienced and would also change my life forever. After plenty of encouragement and determination from the Leader of D of E Awards Ysgol Penmaes I made my decision to sign up for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Scheme in Ysgol Penmaes.

For my Bronze Expedition I went walking and hiking around the Brecon area and camped overnight on the school grounds. The weather during those two days was beautiful, warm but sunny without any complaining on the first day I walked from Brecon Canal to Pencelli Court and on the final day I went hiking from Llanfrynach to Brecon. I learned a new skill whilst on my expedition which was setting up, handling and cooking on a trangia. For my Silver expedition I camped on the school grounds and went walking in the Brecon areas. For my Gold Expedition I went to The Elan Valley doing walking and canoeing and was joined by two other Gold Participants who only had their expedition to complete one of them was a former student at the school I attended who did his Bronze and Silver during his time there and we were an excellent team.

For my Residential I went to volunteer at a day care centre for children and young people with learning disabilities called The Star of Hope Foundation in Dorohoi Romania. I had an enjoyable experience out there working and interacting with the children, young people and their families the biggest challenge of all for me looking back was the food as I was at the time a bit of a fussy eater.