Farleigh End of term, End of year, Graduation report

It is with mixed feelings that I come to write this last blog on Farleigh. I will admit to you now, that I am writing this about two weeks in advance, but with two weeks of exams, I hope you will understand. But even so, the thought that I am in my last 14 days here, is very emotional. When I came to Farleigh, I will admit, I hated it. I hated being away from home, I hated sharing a room, a hated the fact we only get £2 lunch money, I hated most things about it. But I suddenly realised a few months ago, I was calling Farleigh home. Don’t get me wrong, I still see Guildford at my home, but Monday to Friday, I think of Farleigh as my home. I don’t know quite when I started thinking of Farleigh as home, it was probably some time last year, but I guess going away from here will feel like leaving a home.

Ok, it has its flaws, I still think that a third of the staff don’t have the passion for the job you need, a third are inexperienced but with the passion, and a third are perfect. I still think that £2 lunch money is unreasonable when they get over £80,000 a year for looking after me, and the budget allocation (for activities, food etc) I will continue to defy belief, but despite all that, it is still pretty good.

Ok, the walls are as thin as paper, so often have Mr Led Zepplin serenading me to sleep every night, but when I consider that I could have been stuck at a mainstream 6th form, or college, without support, or more likely, finding some job that I utterly hate, I am so glad I am here. The fact is, Farleigh has allowed me to achieve so much in the past two years. If someone said 2 and a half years ago, that I would be going to one of the top universities in the UK (provided my grades come through) to study psychology, and that I would be planning on living over 500 miles away from home and looking forward to it, I would have called the men in white coats and oversized butterfly nets. And I do owe a lot of that to Farleigh.

When I first came here, I was in tears. I cried myself to sleep for the first two weeks, and barely spoke a word for another 2 months. I am not ashamed to say, I was terrified, I hated everything about it, and I wanted to go home. In fact, Dad recently told me for the first term he kept a full tank of diesel in the car because he was expecting a call to come through saying I insisted on coming home. And believe me, there were times I came close to doing that. But I am so glad I didn’t, because once you get over the fear, once you get over the irritating students and staff, once you get over the new routine, you start to achieve, and to make Farleigh work for you. When you take that leap of faith and stop resisting Farleigh, then it starts to work. Yes, Farleigh is full of flaws, many I think because it is owned by the Priory and used to make a profit. I will admit, I have spent days moaning about Farleigh’s flaws. But despite all of the flaws it works, and what is more, it works well.

And I am so thankful to so many people at Farleigh I would like to thank them all, but it takes up about a page, so I have put them at the end of this blog, please take a few moments to read them, the are truly amazing people.

So, would I advise someone to come to Farleigh? As always it depends on the individual, but I think almost everyone could benefit from Farleigh. I won’t deny, the first term will be hard, and you will want to leave, but if you stick at it, you can get so much back.

Thanks to everyone at Farleigh and City of Bath College but especially:

Andy Chiffers, the principal, for taking a quiet, withdrawn boy, and giving him a life changing chance.

Lea-Ann, my “Key staff member” who has stuck with me through thick and thin over the past two years. Who brought me up when I was down, and stopped me looking at the worst of a good situation. But most of all, she was my friend, when I thought I didn’t have any.

Jan P, my house leader in my first year. I have never known someone as knowledgeable and passionate about aspergers. She was busy keeping the mad house together and yet still had time to talk to me.

Ali T “EBOP” (Easter Bunny On Prozac), another staff member at my house in the first year. I have never known anyone to be so infectiously happy.

Peter and Clare at the learning centre, who stopped me panicking about my A levels and helped me get the grades I needed. And even made me smile when I was working.

To Richard “James Blunt” who helped me with my psychology AEA.

At Bath, I would also like to thank

Tony W, my physics Lecturer, the only person to could possibly make physics enjoyable.

Denise W, one of my Maths Lecturers and Head of Maths and Science, who gave me a chance even though I didn’t have the GCSEs to deserve it.

Matt J, my Business lecturer, who is so determined and knowledgeable he could even teach Ants A Level business – and what is more they would enjoy it.

John B, my Psychology lecturer, who gave the chance to try fast track psychology. Who has made me laugh in every lesson, and who made me realise that I could really do well with it.

And especially to Sarah M, my main Maths lecturer. I have never met a teacher who could even come close to her teaching ability. She has the gift to know when people are trying and struggling, or just not trying. She can keep the class in order (no mean feet), organise the army in her lunch break, and still give a great lesson. She is the definition of a natural teacher, and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her.

I would also like to thank my parents, who have always been proud of me, always supported me, and never doubted me, I couldn’t wish for better or more loving parents, what more can I say?

Finally, I would like to thank Anna, who made me smile even in my darkest days. She is so fun to be with, to easy to talk to, and has an amazing energy about her. What is more, she enabled me to discover my childish side – – something I didn’t even know I had.

Joshua Muggleton
Farleigh Graduate