Inspired!

This year’s Lecture Series is in full swing and last week we were delighted to welcome Alastair Humphries to Repton for the first time. His “Round the World by Bike” lecture was described as inspiring, funny and challenging and covered his 4 year, 46,000 mile bike odyssey. After listening to it on Friday evening, A Block pupil Frannie Beharrell (A) sent Alastair an email.

Hello,

My name is Frannie, I am 14 and you have inspired me.

Last week you came to Repton School to talk to us. After a hard day of lessons I walked into tea where the U6 were raving about the talk you had just given them. They were all saying how much we would enjoy your talk. To be honest none of us were too happy about having to miss prep to listen to a man talk about biking! The next day we had a history test and had to do some last minute maths prep, but walking into Beldam hall and seeing the pictures on the power point I would have missed any prep to see the talk again and again and again! The things that struck me most was that you had an idea, you built on it, worked on it and succeeded. Most people think of something crazy to do, talk about it then forget about it, but the determination for you to stick it out on such a difficult idea inspired me to do what I want and succeed. I want to be the first female editor of the times! Yes, like most people you may laugh. But it’s something I want to do, and I believe if you want something enough it will happen. Whilst all of the quotes you have listened to and enjoyed passed over the screen I thought what quote would I put in front of a bunch of dreary eyed teenagers.

THINK BIG. DO BIG.

After your talk on Friday evening I have nearly finished your first book and want to read to the end of your journey. During the talk a friend of mine asked you about your favourite landscape. I chuckled to myself when you said Iceland. Throughout the whole talk I related your journey to the path I want to take in life with ambition, determination and the will to succeed. I have never visited Iceland but I would like to spend a year living over there in the future, a couple of years ago my father visited the country on a fishing trip and a year after that my cousin was fortunate to visit the country with school. After university I would love to take the path you did over Iceland and gain memories and a feeling of fullness which I am sure the expeditions you have taken have filled you with. This Christmas I am asking for a camera, in the talk you mentioned taking pictures of each day of the year. In 2011 I intend on doing the same thing, but of the same landscape each day and at the end of the year being able to look back on the changing world.

Thank you very much for the belief you have put in me for being able to have an idea, dream about it, think about it but then finally succeed.
Yours,
Frannie Beharrell