11 February 2025
Lower Sixth Former Jovie kicked off 2025’s series of lunchtime Thinking Big lectures with a talk titled Don’t Forget About Dementia. As well as explaining what dementia is and the science behind it, Jovie was keen to talk about some of the common misconceptions about dementia, including that it’s a natural part of ageing. Given how many people in the UK are – or will be – affected by dementia in one way or another, Jovie was also at pains to point out that a better understanding of the science can help us understand the reasons for changes in the mood and behaviour of someone with dementia and help us “be able to separate the dementia from the person”.
Science – specifically forensic science - was the focus of our next Thinking Big talk from Miss Akintunde, our Sports Graduate, and a former Woldingham Deputy Head Girl. Inspired to study the subject at university by a self-confessed ‘obsession’ with TV drama Silent Witness, Miss Akintunde’s passion for her chosen field came through loud and clear in her enthralling presentation.
At a Leadership Live session last month, Devon Pearce, also a former Deputy Head Girl, talked to Lower Sixth students on our Leadership Programme about her experience of leadership in action. A group commercial director in the media and games industry with experience of working with record labels, music TV channels, advertising agencies and production companies, Devon had plenty of advice to share about leadership, as well as some entertaining anecdotes about her time at Woldingham.
By the time the half term break arrives, many of us will know a lot more about heuristics and ‘why we all act illogically’, thanks to Valerie, Lower Sixth, who will be ‘Thinking Big’ on this intriguing topic on Friday 14 February.
