Maya Kirlew, Class of 2019, tells us more about her memories of Latymer and what she has done in the last five years.

What attracted you to the Latymer School?
I joined the Latymer School in Year 7. I liked the idea of being surrounded by like-minded individuals, in an environment that would challenge me to be the best version of myself. 

What are your fondest memories of your time at Latymer?
I think that my fondest memories lie within the extra-curricular activities that I did. The trips to Cwm Penmachno in Years 7 and 9 were great for bonding within our classes, teaching us lots about the outdoors but also about ourselves. They were well-planned, giving many students access to try new activities in a completely new setting surrounded by your friends. 

What were your favourite extra-curricular activities here?
I loved taking part in sports, joining the netball club from Year 7 to Year 10 and taking part in weekly matches, as well as representing the school in cross-country and athletics at borough-wide and county-wide competitions. Having never done these sports before, Latymer supported me to learn and excel in these areas, in a way that was fun and stimulating. The teachers were all very flexible with missing classes to attend competitions, supporting me to catch up with any work I missed. Our sporting achievements were always recognised and celebrated. 

What did you do after you left Latymer?
I stayed in London, studying BA French with Management Studies at UCL. This also included living abroad for a year in Paris. 

What was your first job after university and what did it involve?
My first full-time job after university was working as a sales consultant for Elis, a global leader in the workwear laundry industry. My day-to-day tasks involved identifying and targeting potential customers and conducting in-person sales presentations to expose the prospects to the products and services. I created and maintained strong customer relationships through discovering customers' pain points and resolving these using the Elis product range. Elis provided me with all the training I needed to be a success in the business – all I had to bring was drive, resilience and interpersonal skills. 

Tell us more about your current master studies
I decided to do a Masters as I wanted to develop my knowledge and skills to further my career in the business world. I am studying an MSc in International Business at the University of Birmingham, which feels very accessible as the modules are designed so that anyone can understand, regardless of whether you have studied business before or not. It is easy to see how the information we are learning applies to the real world – it just makes sense! Overall, it has given me a very comprehensive view of the business world, which I hope to put into practice in a graduate scheme at a global company once I have graduated.

What makes Latymer special to you?
Latymer is a unique environment, where like-minded individuals can excel in a fun and safe space. The school challenges its pupils, but also supports where necessary. There are loads of amazing opportunities that pupils are exposed to through Latymer, some of which pupils might not have heard of before or had the opportunity to try. 

How do you like to spend your free time?
I am a competitive swimmer and have been swimming since the age of four. I am currently training eight times per week, including early mornings (4:30am starts!), evenings and competitions on the weekends. This might sound like a lot, but having balanced swimming with school, university and working full time, I'm very used to it now! I also work part-time for my former swimming club in Enfield (Swim Enfield), supporting them with membership and competition admin, social media, and managing partnerships. 

What piece of advice would you give to this year's leavers?
Don't stress if you don't have a plan figured out now, you have your whole life ahead of you. Take time to make your decisions to ensure that it's the right move for you. Finally, don't forget to enjoy the ride! 

Do you have a favourite picture from your school days?
This photo is from July 2013, when we went to Cwm Penmachno in Year 7. It was taken on a disposable camera as we weren't allowed phones! We all loved the experience and the whole class grew closer throughout the week.