We extend our congratulations to Year 13 pupils Islay M and Andrew (Drew) M, who presented to the St Andrews Rotary Club on Wednesday, 5 November, following their participation in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), a prestigious leadership development programme for young people.
The RYLA programme, run by Rotary, is designed to help participants aged 16–17 develop essential skills in leadership, communication, organisation, delegation, and teamwork. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of St Andrews, Islay and Drew attended the week-long RYLA Camp in July at the Abernethy Outdoor Centre in the Cairngorms National Park. There, they took part in a range of challenging outdoor and team-building activities, including mountain biking, raft building, gorge walking, and coasteering.
During their presentation, both pupils spoke candidly about the impact the experience had on them. Islay reflected on how RYLA helped her build confidence in leadership and social situations, noting that it encouraged her to take herself less seriously and embrace new challenges. Drew shared how the lessons he learned at RYLA influenced his recent school trip to Nepal, where he worked on a water project for a boarding school. He described how the programme gave him greater confidence in collaborating with peers he had not worked with before.
Experiences such as RYLA are a vital part of an IB education, fostering key learner attributes such as being communicators, caring, risk-takers, and reflective. They also highlight the strength of our co-curricular programme and the enduring value of our partnership with the St Andrews Rotary Club.
Each year, pupils are invited to apply for RYLA, with only one or two selected to attend the summer camp in Scotland. Upon their return, participants share their experiences and insights with the Rotary Club and school community.
We are immensely proud of Islay and Drew for their enthusiasm, courage, and leadership. May the lessons and friendships forged through RYLA stay with them for life.
Categories: School News St Leonards
