The Duke of Edinburgh Award isn't simply a certificate and badge to elevate our CVs; the award scheme can result in pupils diving into the depths of our hobbies, or it can help us to find what we're passionate about. This year’s annual DofE Celebration (held on the 28th of November) invited guests, students and parents to reflect on the benefits of developing skills and the great effort put into doing so. One of this year’s guest speakers, Sandy McKinnon, did this wonderfully in his speech, he discussed the creation of the Foodstory Cafe. 

The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme has important ties with the school. Another guest invited was Rebecca Raynes from DofE Scotland. Robert Gordon's College can proudly say that it is recognised as one of the largest centres for the Award in the country - with 31 Gold awards, 83 Silver awards and 115 Bronze awards being presented to pupils this year: it clearly shows that RGC has a very high participation rate. In her speech, Ms Raynes mentioned that only 8.5% of participants in Scotland undertake all 3 awards, making them Gold recipients. This year RGC celebrates its 600th Gold recipient, further emphasising the importance of DofE in the College and the great opportunities given to pupils. Ms Raynes also spoke about the very positive impression that the organisation has formed of RGCs pupils and commented on how varied the experiences gained by our pupils are. 

Many of the pupils who participated in the award scheme were also involved with the celebration. Robert K - receiving his Silver award this year - played “I Got Rhythm” beautifully. Other participating pupils Emily L and Darcey M (both currently working towards their Gold award) delivered a stellar performance of contemporary dance to “Take Me To Church”. This showcase of talent demonstrates what great things can come from commitment and hard work. 

Other pupils reflected on the personal gains of the award scheme. Sarah M, who has completed her Gold award, spoke candidly about her residential experience, which she found daunting but incredible, stating that she “didn't want to leave”. Sarah spent five days with Dartmoor Zoos Ranger Academy: “If you had told me on day one that I would be genuinely sad to go home on day five,  I would have laughed and said “yeah right!” But to my surprise it has been one of my favourite parts of Gold DofE.” Her residential experience has inspired her to work with animals in the future. At the end of her speech, she emphasised to the Silver recipients the benefit of going on to take on the Gold award too, stating that, in her experience, “It was the right choice.”

Others reflected on their expedition: Nivi A, Erin S and Hayley R recalled the challenges and achievements of their Gold expedition together and spoke about the demands and character building involved.  “Of course there are some aspects of the expedition that you can’t really prepare for,” Hayley began. “As an inexperienced canoer, the sensible decision would have been to share a canoe with someone who had a little more experience. However … I found myself paddling down the river with Erin, who had also never canoed before!” With encouragement from their instructor and a wonderful collaboration of teamwork and effort, they eventually made it to the campsite in one piece. Erin summed matters up by saying that the scheme has granted her fond memories, valuable skills and a great feeling of accomplishment,   “Having now completed Gold, I can safely say that I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my Duke of Edinburgh journey.  We all brought lots of different skills to the expedition, ranging from master chefs to careful navigators, and this allowed our expedition to run smoothly. Hiking alongside some of my closest friends also nurtured me into a patient and encouraging leader; qualities that I will undoubtedly make use of in the future.” The conclusion of their speech was aimed at all Silver and Bronze recipients present as they urged them to continue to Gold: “You might not appreciate the aches and pains at the time, but you’ll be grateful for the memories you have made and the skills you have gained in the future.”

One important message emphasised in this year’s celebration was that volunteering can provide great opportunities. Sandy McKinnon, co-founder of the FoodStory Cafe, put this perfectly in his speech; he stated that although the education we get is important, it is the experiences around that education which shape us. Volunteering allowed Mr McKinnon to develop skills which he would later need in his business; it also provided him with the opportunity to find himself and discover his passions, which led to the creation of the FoodStory Cafe. The FoodStory Cafe opened its doors in 2013 after launching a Kickstarter; the first cafe was constructed by the team itself. It was furnished from donations and bringing new life to old units. Now, Mr McKinnon and his team hope to open a third cafe and perhaps release a cookbook. In his speech, he spoke about how these opportunities have developed his skills in event organisation, management, logistics, marketing and promotion and have brought him a great deal of enjoyment in the process. 

But of course the award scheme in RGC doesn’t run itself. Teachers within the school all volunteer to ensure that it continues smoothly. Many teachers give up lunches and time after school to lead groups, and Mrs Molyneux acts as the Manager who organises and conducts the award scheme within the College (with the help of Mrs Chalmers as Assistant Manager). 

In her closing speech Mrs Watson, Deputy Head, added “I have oversight of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme here in the College and work closely with the staff who run the scheme on a day to day basis... I would like to thank Mrs Molyneux and her team alongside the large group of volunteers from our teaching and support staff who work with the pupils.” 

Overall, the award scheme itself brings so much more than a couple of words on a CV; it's a door-opener for new opportunities and skills and it brings teenagers out into the world. From personal experience, I was grateful for the award because it involved me with my community and with other teenagers my age (which was a step forward in developing skills that have helped me in later years). 

The annual celebration itself emphasises the eye-opening experiences and fulfilment that this prestigious award can bring. At the end of the evening Mrs Watson added: “We very much wanted this to be a celebration of all that the pupils have achieved and I hope that for them it has provided an opportunity to reflect on a year in which they have put a great deal of effort into improving their skills and into giving their time to others.” The award scheme is so much more than a simple mention on a CV. It is an experience in which many great skills and relationships are gained and strengthened, and life-long memories are made. 

Imani K (S6)

DofE: It's not just for the CV