Looking back, organising our school leavers’ ball as Deputy Head Girl was one of the most rewarding highlights of my time at St Helens. For one evening, our sports hall was transformed into a whole new world, where we had a delicious sit-down meal, live music and, of course, did plenty of dancing. Fairy lights, flowers, and woodland-inspired decorations made it feel as though we had stepped into our very own SHSK version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. One Pinterest vision board, countless online shopping tabs, many colour scheme and menu debates later, it was surreal to finally walk into the finished hall and see it exactly as we had imagined.
Planning the ball was a real team effort, but I was fortunate to take a leading role in bringing the event together. Alongside the dedicated Benedict Social Committee, I collaborated closely with the wonderful bursar, Laura Kebble, to organise everything behind the scenes. We also had a fantastic group of volunteers who helped set up the venue, transforming our ideas into reality.
Throughout the planning process, I wanted to make sure the event reflected what our year group wanted, so working with both staff and students to create something everyone would enjoy was especially meaningful. My favourite part of the entire process was choosing the theme and shopping for the decorations, especially thinking about all the little details that would make the evening feel memorable. It was so fulfilling to see those plans come to life exactly as I had imagined and it is important to note that none of this would have been possible without everyone’s help. A special shoutout to Mr Nevard who laser cut over 100 small dragonflies so I could have the place cards of my dreams and Ms McNally-Cross who lent us 6ft tall steel poles for my ambitious ideas- thank you!
Organising the ball taught me so much about leadership, communication, and problem-solving, but more than anything, it reminded me how gratifying it is to create something for other people. It has been an honour, in my role as Deputy Head Girl, to see everyone laughing, singing, and dancing together one last time. By the end of the evening, sore feet, slightly wilted decorations, and hoarse voices were all signs of a celebration that had been well worth the planning. Although slightly bittersweet, as goodbyes always are, it was the perfect way to celebrate everything we had experienced together over the past seven years, and I could not have asked for a better way to end such an important chapter of our lives.