Meet Old Pangbournian Lucia. Lucia is from Croatia and attended the College from 2019 to 2021 during Sixth Form and was an HMC Scholar. She now studies Biological Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.

What A Level subjects did you study?

I studied Mathematics, Chemistry, and Biology.

What are your fondest memories of Pangbourne?

My fondest memories of Pangbourne are definitely the times I spent at the music block. The teachers and students were really nice and easy-going. I had a lot of fun during Soul Band, Marching Band, and we also did Grease the Musical which was loads of fun.

Also, as an international student I had to stay at the College during the COVID lockdowns which was quite a hard time. However, even though it was tough, I have many fond memories of it because I really felt that the Pangbourne staff were trying to take care of us and they were putting in a lot of effort and trying to make it a good time for us - a big thanks for that!

What did you go on to do after your time at Pangbourne?

I went straight to university to study Biological Sciences at Edinburgh.

How did the College prepare you for life beyond school?

I think boarding at a school prepares you for the independent life at university. It definitely makes you more resilient and teaches you some life skills, and it prepares you to not rely on your parents and teachers all the time, but maybe to do some more problem solving.

Pangbourne also provides many extra-curricular activities that allow you to explore your interests, and that can help you choose the right societies once you come to university. Also, Pangbourne encourages their students to do Duke of Edinburgh, which is something I have found to be very useful when looking for employment as a student.

How would you describe Pangbourne College?

Something that stands out about Pangbourne College is their pastoral care, it is very good and the students are taken care of. It's also a small but very friendly community that is accepting of new students.

What would you say to somebody who is considering Pangbourne for their child's education?

I really recommend it. I only joined in Sixth Form and I was initially academically struggling because I moved from Croatia and things obviously work differently. But I found that the teachers were extremely helpful and patient, and they were really trying to help me and offered a lot of one-to-one sessions, or joined me to smaller groups to do some extra work. In the end, the progress I made from joining and when I left was really great. I did my A Levels and passed them with amazing results and managed to get into Edinburgh. It really made me confident in my skills and I'm proud to say I'm an Old Pangbournian.

As an HMC Scholar, what did the opportunity to attend Pangbourne mean to you?

It definitely meant a lot! I'd say it changed my future. Previously, when I was in Croatia, I always thought small. I never considered going all the way to the UK and going to such a big and famous university because it was just not possible for me. But then that opportunity definitely allowed me to dream bigger and achieve more than I thought I could. I will forever be thankful to Pangbourne College for that.

 Three words to describe Pangbourne College?

I would describe Pangbourne as warm, encouraging, and unforgettable.