Introducing 2021 Head Girl: Stella Hammond

Introducing our Head Girl for 2021, Stella Hammond. 

What do you hope to bring to the College Community as Head Girl?

I hope, as Head Girl for 2021, to continue to create the empowering, dedicated, and enjoyable atmosphere that exists within our College Community. I believe that if we can promote the idea of having respect and a real drive for what we are doing, the rest will follow. One of my main priorities is to provide as much support as I can to my peers where needed. I aspire to put forward new and worthwhile tasks that would benefit any particular department, student group or aspect of the school, and commit to taking advantage of valuable opportunities, and grow and improve collectively by finding the courage daily to develop and change for the better. 

Why did you apply to be a leader in 2021?

I applied to be a leader in 2021, specifically Head Girl, because I am really passionate about having the opportunity to give back to the College. The College has given me so many opportunities, with leadership being one of them, and hopefully I can now make an even more memorable contribution and have a positive impact on our College. I also love the opportunities being a leader gives you in being able to work with girls across all different year groups as well as staff members. The opportunity to get to know each other while working together to make our School environment the best it possibly can be is very special. 

Who do you admire and what is it that you admire about them?

Ever since I came to Santa Maria, I’ve always looked up to and admired the previous Head Girls, as well as the leaders in general. I loved how approachable they always were, even for the younger girls with the many years difference in age. They always acted as a source of guidance and support to everyone and lent a hand wherever possible, as well as having a great deal of passion and dedication in their pursuits. I also admire the leaders who led and were role models to young girls without a badge. They may not have always been given the same credit but were still committed to leading and showing compassion. 

If you could sit down and have a conversation with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

I would love to sit down and have a conversation with Emmeline Pankhurst, who was a leader of the suffragettes in Britain. She is one of the most important historical figures for women. She, with the support of her three daughters, had the strength to keep working towards suffrage even though she was continuously arrested and imprisoned for fighting women’s rights. It would be insightful to have a conversation about her time as a suffragette and then ask her what she would say to young women in 2020.