MY PERSONAL STATEMENT

When I was looking for schools with my parents, I was particularly intent on finding a school that would be able to provide the opportunities for me to continue developing and growing my passions. 

Also, while some of my other friends are looking for schools closer to home, I believe that being further away from home provides me with a really good chance to make new friends and prepare for things like university, when I won’t be able to rely on my parents so much. This will develop my independence and teach me to look after myself more. 

I want to be a scholar because I feel that the more committed I am the more my passions will continue to grow. As a scholar, I would be given many opportunities and I would do my best to embrace all of these.

There are 3 main attributes I have that would make me a good scholar. 

Leadership

When it comes to being a leader, people see it in different ways, such as:

• Take control - do it all yourself
• Step back and let them do it all
• You get to do the fun things because you were titled leader

But I don’t see it as any of these. I see it as guiding my peers towards the right path, but giving them the room to be collaborative and flexible. Let them come up with their own ideas, and be all inclusive by listening to everyone’s opinions. This is how I would help as a scholar. I would guide my fellow students who need the help and support to reach their goals. They can come to me when they need help or advice, and I would be a good role model for them. At West Hill Park, I help our director of music, Mrs Crane, run the choirs and the different musical clubs she has going on at break times, and I also spend a lot of time in the music department practise rooms, and go into the different rooms to try and help students with pieces that they’re struggling with.

Ambition

When it comes to music, I have lots of ambition to be the best I can. When I applied to be music captain, I found that lots of people didn’t apply for the bigger roles because they thought that it would be too much hard work and it was boring. The reason why I did apply was because I wanted that challenge - I wanted to push myself to my full potential and really show my school how amazing you can be if you put your mind to it. To me, it would be a challenge because I would have to be committed to everything, but I always put music over everything else, so I think it would be finding the right balance of music and other subjects, but I am determined to make this work. The only thing stopping you from doing something you love, is you.

Resilience

Last, but not least, I have resilience. 

‘It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.’  - Charles Darwin

The reason I love this quote is because it reminds me of a time in my current year at West Hill Park when I felt lost and didn’t know how to handle a situation - fight or flight. Returning back from summer holidays and learning of our roles for Year 8, I was expecting to get Music Captain as nobody else had applied for this. When they announced me as Deputy Head Girl, I was shocked. I didn’t know how I was going to handle this role. I wasn’t prepared as I was so hyped up about getting Music Captain that I hadn’t thought about adapting. This is when I knew I was going to have to change my tack. I got stuck into all of the school activities happening, trying to be the perfect role model and I adapted to my situation very quickly. I am now doing really well and love my role. As a scholar, I know, because of situations like this, I would be able to change and adapt when I am needed to, or change paths when I face a dead end.

In conclusion, I believe that I have the right qualities to make a good role model as a scholar. I have the determination and the resilience to face this role with a passion from my heart.

Isabella Poling - Year 8, November 2021

MUSIC OVERVIEW

My interest in music began at a very young age. Most of the influence came from my parents. They were always playing music and encouraging me, and later my brother, to sing and dance. When I was 3, I joined my first performing arts school, Stage Skool, and when I was 4, I joined Stagecoach. I have been at Stagecoach for 8 years, and I love it.

I have made amazing friends and got to know many teachers there who have helped me on my journey and have been there for me in auditions and throughout the different accomplishments I have gained. I am really grateful to them. Also, I joined a production company called Bodyrox in 2018 that focused on music and dance. In my years of being part of these organisations, my confidence has grown massively, and it has given me the independence to perform within my community. 

SOLO PERFORMANCE VIDEOS

Below is a selection of videos with solo performances from 2018 - 2021

SPORT

I love taking part in sports because being part of a team is the best feeling. I am so close to everyone I play team sports with, and it is such a great community to be part of. The girls in my hockey team are really supportive of my position as goalkeeper, my main sporting achievement, and they always try to encourage me in matches, and also when we are training. They understand how much being the goalie for the team means to me, and try to be there when I am under pressure - I will always be thankful for that.

In addition, I was invited to play as a bowler for the boys cricket team for school at the end of the summer term in Year 7. I didn't get the opportunity to play many matches with them, but I hope to do so in this upcoming cricket season. I love being a bowler because it requires precision and focus, and when I am bowling, I feel 100% concentrated on the ball and the stumps.

Other sports that I have taken part in include Netball, Karate, 100m/200m Sprint, 400m, Cross Country, High Jump, Javelin, Vortex Throwing, Cricket Ball Throwing, Basketball. Gymnastics, Swimming, Kayaking and Paddle Boarding.

DRAMA & DANCE

Outside of school, I am part of a Performing Arts school, Stagecoach, and here is where I do my dancing. Being a big lover of music, I find myself getting lost in the music through dance too, and love showing and expressing my emotions and passions through dance, as I do for music. I was part of the Elements Dance Company (with West Hill Park school), an elite dance company to which access was through completion of a successful audition. I engaged with both Eastern and Western dance styles and contemporary dance. As part of the company, I completed an academic directed task and performed with the community from Taunton School's Perfoming Arts students.

I have performed in many productions run by Stagecoach, the Bodyrox Production Company and West Hill Park School, including:

Bodyrox Production Company

• VE Day 75, Southsea Common Main Stage (May 2020)
• The Greatest Show-Down, Ferneham Hall (Nov 2019)
• Summer gala, Ferneham Hall (Jul 2019)
• D-Day 75 commemorations, Southsea Common Main Stage (Jun 2019)
• The Magic of Christmas, The Berry Theatre (Dec 2017)
• Winter Wonderment, Theatre 141, Fareham College (Dec 2018)

West Hill Park School

• Grease, as "Rizzo" (Year 8)
• Mary Poppins, as "Bumble Bee" and "Kite flyer" (Year 5)
• Robin Hood, as "Robber" (Year 4)
• Mystery at Magpie Manor, as "Magpie May" (Year 3)

Stagecoach

• High School Musical, as "Taylor", video performance @ Crofton Secondary School (2021)
• Billy Elliott, as a dancer and singer, National Stagecoach Performance.St David's Hall, Cardiff (2019)
• Stepping into the Spotlight, Kings Theatre, Southsea (2018)
  
• Cinderella, as a mouse, Crofton Secondary School (2016)
• Starlight Express, as member of chorus line, Berry Theatre, Hedge End (2015)
• Annie, as "Annie", Whiteley Primary School  (2014)
  

ACADEMICS