We caught up with Joint Head of College, Abi Botterill, in today's 'A Conversation With...' following the conclusion of her exams! Abi will be known to many for her incredible skills on the netball court but in this feature, we learn more about her from her memorable moments at the College to what she plans to do post-Shiplake.
How long have you been a pupil at Shiplake and what are your roles?
I joined for the start of sixth form, so I have been at the College for two years! My roles at Shiplake are Joint Head of College with Tom Lebeau, and I am also the Girls’ Netball Captain!
What did you study at A-level and why?
For my A-levels, I took geography, PE, and criminology. I initially took geography because my dad absolutely loved it, though admittedly I only found it slightly interesting at GCSE. However, I now love the subject as I can apply it to all aspects of life and hope to study it further at university. The moment I heard about criminology, I was immediately interested. It is fascinating to learn why crime takes place, although a few of the case studies have kept me up at night! Lastly, I took PE because I love sport and have enjoyed taking part in a variety of sports from an early age!
What have been your most memorable moments at Shiplake?
I have had many memorable moments at Shiplake, in fact too many to count! Many of the sporting fixtures have been a huge highlight of my time at Shiplake and playing with my friends is huge as well. I also don’t think I will ever be able to forget the Gilson v College netball match where the boys attempted to play netball.
Another big memory for me would also be the geography trip to Iceland. Despite the freezing cold temperatures which made me wear about 9 layers each day, the views were incredible and it's an experience I don’t think I will ever forget!
What is the best thing about Shiplake?
The best thing about Shiplake for me would be the people! I have made many lifelong friends at Shiplake and have shared many incredible memories with them. The teachers also go above and beyond to make pupils feel at ease and it helps that they treat us like adults.
What is your advice for the incoming Heads of College?
The advice I would have to give to the incoming Heads of College is to just enjoy the role. Personally, when I first got the role, I was very anxious and definitely took things a bit too seriously. I was also slightly doubting why I got it in the first place. But then when I relaxed and just acted like myself things felt so much more natural and fell into place! So be relaxed and don’t take it all too seriously. Remember you got the role for a reason!!
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time I would say I am quite an active person! I love running and netball, so those activities fill a lot of my free time. However, since I have now finished school and all my exams, I find myself with much more free time than I am used to, so I plan to spend more time with my family and doing some traveling with friends before university!
Netball is clearly a massive part of your life; how did you get to where you are now and why do you enjoy it so much?
Saying netball is a big part of my life is undeniable! I started quite late at the age of 14 as normally you start when you are about 7, so it was safe to say I had a lot of catching up to do but I do believe that my height does help! I joined my local club and played for fun mostly but then when I was 15, I went to a London Pulse Netball Masterclass just for a bit of a laugh and did not really think anything of it. But I was then scouted and selected by the Talent Manager and have been playing for them ever since!
I enjoy netball so much as it is a very feisty game and far more technical than many people believe! I have met so many inspirational and strong women through London Pulse who have helped shape the person I am today!
What do you hope to do post-Shiplake?
Now that is a very daunting question! I hope to attend the University of Exeter and study geography next year. I would love to travel but believe if I don’t go straight to university next year then I might never go! I also hope to play lots of netball at Exeter. I am sad to be leaving Shiplake, although I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds!
