I had the absolute pleasure of visiting the Senior Prep School last Friday, and from the moment I arrived, I was struck by the warmth, energy, and sense of purpose that runs through every part of the school. It’s a place where children are not only encouraged to achieve, but are truly inspired to grow, both as learners and as people.
I was invited to speak as part of the school’s commitment to ‘Inspiring the Pupil Experience’, and it was a real honour to share my story with such an engaged and thoughtful group of pupils and staff. I spoke about my journey through elite sport, representing Ireland and the life-changing diagnosis of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia that came in 2013.
While that diagnosis changed so much, it also taught me the power of resilience, adaptability, and optimism. These are lessons I try to live by, and it was incredibly meaningful to pass them on to the pupils during assembly. I spoke about how life doesn’t always go the way we planned but what matters most is how we respond.
My message was simple:
“There is always opportunity, even in setbacks.”
The pupils were amazing: so attentive, so curious, and so willing to think deeply about what resilience really means. It was one of those days that reminds me exactly why I love doing what I do.
The staff’s passion for creating a nurturing, inspiring environment is obvious, and it’s clear these children are being given every opportunity to thrive. HPPS Senior Prep School really is something special, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of it, even just for a short while.
