I’m away.”
Even in her studies, “I am sort of drawn to books that have that kind of environment or setting. I love reading Caribbean literature,” she says, citing Derek Walcott’s epic poem of “Omeros” as a favourite.
“I feel really lucky to have been educated in two institutions, which place such a high value in women’s.”
- Lucy Hall '03 2009 Rhodes Scholar
It all started at BHS, which Lucy attended in her Primary years. At the time, her mother, the late Susan Hall, headed the Music department. (Her father Adrian Hall taught Math at Bermuda College.) She also attended Saltus Grammar School before moving to Cheltenham Ladies’ College in England, an all-girls boarding school, which coincidentally, was the model for BHS when it was founded in 1894. “I do feel really, really lucky to have been educated in two institutions, which place such a high value in women’s learning, thought and women’s participation,” Lucy says. “I do think in lots of way these educational experiences prepared me to be willing to voice my opinions.” Lucy’s childhood in Bermuda continues to colour her life. While she loves living in London, where she settled after Oxford University, the Brits “have a thing for ignoring people on the street” and keeping their heads down. Such an attitude is far from the openness she grew up with. “I think the thing that strikes me most when I come home, and it was especially true when I was at Oxford is, it sounds really corny, but the pace of life is so different,” she says. “I never really appreciated it when I was growing up and living there. The thing is that neighbourliness and community that I miss most when
20 Torchbearer Spring 2013
After she graduated from Cheltenham, Lucy, who is also an accomplished cellist, attended Warwick University, where she studied English Literature. At Oxford, she earned her Master’s of Studies in Renaissance Literature. Lucy’s recent move to London began with a look through the 'want ads' in The Royal Gazette. Last summer, she interned at Orbis Investment Advisory as an analyst in London, an opportunity she first discovered in the local paper. Upon completion, she was offered a full-time position in marketing. Her new job, as she says, allows her to continue “to work with words”. A degree in English, “qualifies you to do everything and nothing,‘’ Lucy says. So while she learned as a student to analyse, digest and break down a piece of literature from every angle, the career path was not always clear, and, just maybe, beside the point. Says Lucy, “For me, I really did it more because I loved the reading.”
M
ichèle Smith’s interest in ancient history began right here at Bermuda
High School.
Studying Latin under Dr. Stuart Curtis and Annie Russell, Michèle set off on a path that became an all-out passion for Mediterranean history.
At McGill University - where she
earned an honours degree in history - she thrived in the small, tight knit community of classics students. “I really enjoyed that because I was used to being in more of a small learning environment at BHS. I really enjoyed the one-on- one attention,” Michèle says. In honour of her outstanding accomplishments both inside and outside the classroom, Michele was named Bermuda’s Rhodes Scholar in 2010. Currently in her last year of post-secondary education, Michèle begins her career as a lawyer later this year.
Michèle, who finished her three- year degree in jurisprudence in just two years at Oxford University, has travelled to Spain, Turkey and Italy to indulge her love of history. At Oxford, she remembers, she had to switch gears somewhat, learning to write and think like a lawyer.
attention that they need. That was just brilliant. It made my learning experience at BHS extraordinary and gave me the skills that I needed at university,” says Michèle, who completed the IB program with a near perfect score.
Michèle was also an
accomplished debater at BHS, traveling to Calgary for the 2005 World’s Debating. At university, she continued her involvement in debate. This included helping to organise McGill’s Model United Nations Conference.
“I think BHS really encouraged you to speak out in class so that was great.”
- Michèle Smith '06 2010 Rhodes Scholar
“Historians love the details. They love knowing exactly about a particular thing and knowing all the details surrounding it and being extremely descriptive as well as analytical. Lawyers cut through all that,” Michèle says. Michèle is now working toward her Legal Practice Course, a postgraduate diploma in legal practice, to become qualified as a lawyer in the United Kingdom. She is scheduled to finish in May and begin working at the corporate law firm Shearman & Sterling in August. She will work as a trainee in the American firm’s London office.
Michèle started at BHS in P4. Her parents are Mariette Savoie, the current treasurer at BHS, and Mark Smith. Michèle remembers how her
French teacher took the extra time to tutor her so she could take a Higher-level IB course. Michèle already spoke French at home.
“I think that’s just one example of how BHS teachers go the extra mile to provide excellent teaching for their students and really give the one-on-one
“I would get terribly nervous when I would speak in public or even in a group of people,” Michèle remembers. “I think BHS really encouraged you to speak out in class, so that was great. It gave me so much confidence because I feel now that when I have to speak out in front of people, I don’t get nervous in that same way anymore. Michèle also took advantage of internships on the island. This included a summer with the law firm of Conyers Dill & Pearman. Such opportunities aren’t necessarily available to students in bigger places, she says. “More and more as I get older
I realise how lucky I am to be from such a beautiful, wonderful place full of opportunities,” Michèle says. “I now realise all the opportunities I was given from such a young age really helped shape who I am and the opportunities I have now.”
F
or every opportunity that comes her way, Alisha Gabriel leaves a piece of
herself behind. It may be a research project that changed the way a hospital fights infections, or a society that helps young medical students feel connected.
In honour of such commitment and skill, she was selected as Bermuda’s Rhodes Scholar in 2012. Alisha, who is completing her
residency in pediatrics at London Children’s Hospital in Ontario, will attend Oxford University this fall, where she will pursue her Master of Science in Public Health. It’s a path that took more than good grades. She would advise young people considering medicine to do some soul- searching too.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32