Apple, part of our Sixth Form and head girl team, has some tips on how to make the most of the Christmas break.

As the Christmas holidays are approaching, I thought it would be useful to give you an outlook on a beneficial way of spending your Christmas.

Since many of us are very busy with our academic work, we often forget to spend quality time with our family and friends. Since we have a long break for Christmas, make sure to spend this time with the people you love. Many people are not as fortunate as we are to have a joyful Christmas spent with our loved ones. So this Christmas maybe try and give back to people who need it the most. Christmas is not just about receiving presents from others, but the fact that we can give back to people who need it most, is a gift in itself.

As academic pressure increases throughout the school year, it is vital to use this time as a break to spend time for yourself. Try to indulge in activities that enhance your own personal interests and this could be through trying something new that you have been upholding, which could be a good way to end this year. It is also important to use this time to relax and take time out for yourself in order to have a fresh mindset for the upcoming year. 

As the new year is approaching, it would be a good idea to have a goal oriented mindset. This enables us to achieve more than what we thought of, had we not had a goal mindset in the first place. As new year resolutions do not always go to plan, my concept may help you achieve your goals. Make sure your goal is specific and you have a true purpose to achieve your goal, this way you have determination to achieve your target. I also advise you to break your big goal into smaller attainable goals in order to succeed in your bigger aim. For example, if you aspire to achieve an A in a Biology exam, try to aim for the smaller goals such as writing revision notes a week before the exam, or reading ahead of lessons. This will enable you to have a good mindset of personal growth in the following year. 

If you follow this concept of expanding your horizons and continue to challenge yourself and continue to improve yourself, you will end up succeeding in what you aspire to do. Try and give back to the community and spend time with those who are most important to you, and without a doubt you can start the new year with flying colours.