I left Westside during the Covid-19 pandemic, cutting my final year short sadly. My last day of school at Westside was in February, 2020.

Following my successful A-level grades I have since completed a BSc Psychology degree at Loughborough University with a first class honours. As a result, I further continued my studies at Loughborough and I am now doing a masters programme on Sport and Exercise Psychology. Alongside that, I have been part of Loughborough University’s football performance programme, signing with Loughborough Lightning in my final year at the university due to double knee surgeries keeping me out of football for a total of 19 months! With regards to sporting achievements was also named the 2021 Gibraltar Sports Person of the Year due to appearing on a BT Sports Programme, as well as becoming the first female player to score at a UEFA football match. Most recently, I have also captained the Gibraltar Women’s National team against the Tottenham Hotspur Women’s team.

I have many special memories at Westside, mainly coming from the special bond you develop with friends, as well as teachers. The reaction from teachers following results day is always special, as they always knew the hard work I put into every academic accolade.

My advice would be to focus on the journey rather than the destination. Yes, results are the main focus of your time at Westside, but what is more important are the values and life skills which you can then carry across your lifetime. This also includes memories with friends, but most importantly the footprint you can leave on a teacher or staff for the rest of their lives! Ask questions, learn about each other’s life stories and trajectories, because the main source of learning doesn’t come from textbooks or the greatest role models that you learn about, but rather from the people that surround your day-to-day life.

I left Westside in 2020, but my time was unfortunately cut short due to the pandemic, and I was not able to get a proper Westside send-off. As a year group, we were quite affected by this, and I wish I had gotten to say goodbye to the wonderful teachers who made my time at Westside so memorable. 

Since leaving Westside, I have been living and studying in Bristol. I recently graduated with a First-Class degree in English literature, and I'm currently undertaking a Master's in Comparative Literatures & Cultures, where I get to draw connections with works of literature from across the world. When I was a student at Westside, I was taught by Ms Massetti, Ms Porter and Ms Morello. It was due to their brilliance as teachers that I was inspired to study Literature at a higher level. Now, I work as a part-time bookseller for an independent bookshop and I get to be surrounded by books all day! 

Recently, I created and self-published my own magazine. I had the idea to create a space where students who lived in between cultures, such as myself, could express themselves and thus, The LatinXperience was born. Last week, I celebrated the launch of the publication of our first issue, and I plan on publishing five more issues! In the future, I hope to complete a PhD in Literary studies and hopefully work in publishing to help showcase underrepresented voices. 

Some of my favourite memories from Westside include the year 10 Sports Day, when we all dressed in our house colours, our faces painted in bright colours, and had spent hours plaiting our hair before the actual event. As it so happens, none of us were any good at sports, but we were dressed for the occasion and messed around all day. Another fond memory, particularly of my final year, was every English lesson we had. I was very fortunate to have been part of a class where everyone was close with each other and our teachers, so it was always a comforting and validating environment. I wish we could have enjoyed many more of those days together!

If I could give my younger self any advice, it would be to have confidence in myself, and my abilities, and that I have all the answers I am seeking. I have always struggled with anxiety, and if I could go back and tell my younger self that everything would turn out just fine and to enjoy myself more, I definitely would! I'm very grateful for where life has taken me at the moment, even if I worry a lot, and I can't wait to see what the next few years have in store.

When did you leave Westside School?

I completed my studies in Westside School in 2004. I did Spanish and History of Art for my A-Levels. Languages have always been my forte and I am very much into history and learning about other cultures.

I strongly believe that teachers play a big role in the impact they have upon us. It certainly was the case for me. My brilliant Spanish teacher Mr Rafa Gomez was who inspired me to further my Spanish studies at A-Level and I enjoyed the Spanish literature classes so much, it prompted me to carry on studying it at University.

Before moving on to recount what I have been up to since I left Westside School, I feel it is important to mention the fact that I am visually impaired. I have been visually impaired since I was born. Things weren't always rosy at school due to the fact that in those days we didn't have all the learning aids and high tech gadgets we have nowadays. I appreciate it that teachers tried to help me to the best of their ability. But I am especially grateful to Mr Rafa Gomez and Mrs Garesse and Mrs Garcia, my maths teachers for encouraging me and believing in me.

Hence, if I could give any advice to my younger self it would definitely be to be more confident in myself and believe more in my abilities. 

For all students out there, whether you have a learning difficulty or not, although life is not always easy, the message I want to put out there is that all you have to do is try your best and never give up. Sometimes the hardest things are worth working hard for. The important thing is to make the best of your journey and learn from it, not the destination. 

What have you been up to since you left Westside School?

After completing my A-Levels I went to Coventry University to study Spanish and Tourism. At the time when I chose my course I wasn't completely sure what I wanted to do once I finished Uni, however all I knew is that I loved languages and travel. I couldn't wait to get out there in the greater world beyond Gibraltar and be independent. As part of my course I was fortunate to undergo a year's work placement in Spain at a real estate agent dealing with promotional material related to tourism. 

Once I completed my course I participated in a European language exchange programme and once again I opted to go to Spain, this time a 6-month work placement in a tour operator in the enchanting city that is Granada. 

Where has life taken you since?

After I finished my studies I knew that I wanted to come back to my beloved hometown. I started applying for job vacancies including several from the Tourist board but it seems it wasn't meant to be.

At present I work for the Postal Services. It might not be the job I had at first hoped for but I work in a pleasant environment. 

I've learnt that in life we can't always have what we want. The important thing is to embrace the opportunities that present themselves, making the most of every moment and of the small things and bear in mind that things always happen for a reason.