“It’s taught me leadership, resilience & to keep trying” – A Multi-Sport Student On School, Competition & Life

Meet Millie, a multi-sport captain at North London Collegiate School (Singapore), who has represented her school across multiple sports, and shares the magic behind how she juggles competition, academics and life.

Grade 9 North London Collegiate School (Singapore) student Millie started playing football at the age of 8–and it just clicked. “Since then, football has become a very important part of my life,” she explains. “I enjoy staying fit and challenging myself, but the best thing about sport is the friendships I have made.”

Millie, who’s currently the school’s U16 Football Captain, credits the school for not just giving her the opportunity to play football and an array of sports, but also giving her the support she needs to juggle it all. Here, she shares how being involved with different sports has helped her in other aspects of her life, and how she does it all with confidence and resilience.

Discovering different strengths through sport

“One of my proudest achievements was captaining the team that won the U14 ACSIS Girls’ Football competition last year,” Millie recalls. “I was also particularly proud to captain the U15 team at the FOBISIA Girls’ Football tournament in Thailand, where we were crowned champions. Being part of the U13 FOBISIA Games squad and leading the football team to victory was another very special experience. It was exciting to represent the School, but it also required commitment, teamwork and a willingness to support one another.”

And it’s not just football. Over the years, Millie has also taken on different sporting CCAs, including netball, athletics and competitive swimming, as well as volleyball, touch rugby and more. “Being involved in different sports and activities has helped me develop my communication and leadership skills. It has also allowed me to make friends across different year groups and become more confident when working with new people,” she says.

But for Millie, sport has never been only about the results. Taking part in competitions has allowed her to meet players from different schools across Singapore and Asia, while being involved in different sports has helped her make friends across year groups and become more confident working with new people. She explains, “This is especially important in an international school, where people may come and go. Getting involved helps you feel connected and gives you opportunities to flourish both within and beyond the classroom.”

The support behind the success

So, how does a student juggle it all? Well aware of the balance needed for sport and school, Millie says she uses a schedule to organise her time and stay on top of her academic work. In fact, she says her involvement with sports helps her apply the same discipline, focus and time management needed for academic work. “The commitment required in sport has also taught me to set goals, manage my responsibilities and keep working even when something is challenging,” she adds.

Millie also credits the support she’s received both at school and at home, including Mr Hingley, who coached Millie in the U11 football team: “We are very lucky to have such a wonderful and dedicated coach. He encourages us to try different sports while also reminding us to maintain a healthy balance with our academic studies. My Head of Year also checks in with me and helps me make sure that I am not taking on too much,” Millie says.

“Through sport, I have learned about leadership, resilience and the importance of continuing to try, even when results do not go the way I hoped,” she continues. She advises those looking to follow this path to try their best, continue persevering and use these very opportunities to flourish in and out of the classroom.

Got a child who’s balancing a passion and academics? Discover how NLCS (Singapore) supports students like Millie to flourish academically, personally and beyond the classroom. Visit the School to find out more or book a tour to arrange a visit.

NLCS (Singapore), 130 Depot Road, Singapore 109708, www.nlcssingapore.sg