My First Laidlaw Residential: Exploring Leadership, Self-Awareness, and Growth
Looking back on my first Laidlaw residential, I can honestly say it was a truly memorable experience — a week filled with learning, meaningful connections, and opportunities to step outside my comfort zone.
Throughout the residential, we explored different aspects of leadership, from working effectively in teams to understanding what it means to lead in an ethical and responsible way. We also discussed the role and impact of AI in research, the importance of responsible research practices, and how to communicate ideas clearly and effectively.
One of the most valuable parts of the experience was learning how to present our ideas with confidence and connect with others. Being placed into different groups throughout the week allowed me to meet and collaborate with many scholars, each bringing their own perspectives, experiences, and approaches. These interactions helped me appreciate the diversity of thought within the cohort.
Beyond the workshops, we also had opportunities to express ourselves creatively. One highlight was creating a short performance exploring emotions and experiences such as feeling accepted and heard, and bringing those ideas to life through a play. Seeing each team's interpretation was both inspiring and enjoyable. The residential concluded with a beautiful gala, celebrating everything we had learned together and the friendships we had built along the way.
A particularly meaningful part of the residential was reflecting on my Quintax profile. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of the results. Some of my scores felt quite extreme and even seemed to contradict one another, especially when I compared them with other Scholars whose profiles appeared more balanced. However, after discussing the results with my teammates, I began to understand how these different traits work together rather than against each other.
For example, although I am naturally more introverted than extroverted, my strong emotional commitment and enthusiasm for the things I care about often encourage me to step outside my comfort zone and engage more with others. This reflection helped me better understand both my strengths and the areas where I want to continue developing. Here are some reflections I made abiut my strengths and areas of improvement:
Strengths
- Building a strong understanding of the subjects I work on rather than staying at a surface level.
- Being committed and passionate about the projects and people I care about.
- Supporting others and contributing positively to a team environment.
- Taking time to think problems through carefully before making decisions.
Areas for Improvement
- Becoming more objective by relying on evidence rather than emotions when making decisions.
- Speaking up more confidently and sharing my ideas more often.
- Continuing to develop my communication and networking skills.
- Finding a healthier balance between passion and perspective to avoid becoming overly emotionally invested.
This residential was not only about developing leadership and research skills but also about gaining a deeper understanding of myself. I left feeling inspired, grateful for the people I met, and excited to continue growing throughout my Laidlaw journey!
My Second Laidlaw Residential: Stepping out of My Comfort Zone
My second Laidlaw residential was a completely different experience from the first one. It was both mentally and physically challenging, pushing me outside of my comfort zone while teaching me valuable lessons about trust, teamwork, resilience, and self-reflection.
Day 1: Climbing 🧗♀️
Climbing was probably the biggest personal challenge for me. Before this experience, I didn’t realise how much I struggled with the fear of letting go and trusting others. Even though I knew I was safe and that my teammates were holding the rope, my mind kept telling me that I was going to fall.
I found myself constantly second-guessing every move: “What if I step there and fall?” “What if I make the wrong choice?” I was overthinking every path instead of trusting the process and the people supporting me.
During my first climb, this fear slowed me down significantly. I took a long time to reach the top, and I started comparing myself to others, feeling frustrated that I wasn’t as fast or as strong. The longer I stayed on the wall, the more tired I became, and I could feel my muscles wanting to give up.
But I kept going. I made it to the top.
When I came back down, I realised that the biggest challenge wasn’t the wall itself — it was learning to trust. I decided to try again, but this time with a completely different mindset. I chose to trust my teammates, trust the equipment, and trust myself.
And the difference was incredible. I climbed much faster, reached the top with confidence, and felt incredibly proud of myself. It reminded me that growth often comes from giving ourselves the space to reflect on our weaknesses, rather than being disappointed by them. Sometimes, the only thing standing between us and our goals is the fear holding us back.
Day 2: Hiking 🥾
The hiking day was another amazing experience, especially because it challenged us as a team. One of our tasks was to get everyone up a cliff while carrying our bags, which meant we had to think strategically about how to organise ourselves.
We had to consider everyone’s strengths and weaknesses: who would lead, who would go first, who would carry bags, who needed more support, and how we could make sure everyone reached the top safely.
It was a great lesson in teamwork and leadership. We had to communicate, make decisions together, and ensure that everyone was comfortable with the plan. It taught me the importance of recognising the strengths of the people around you and using them effectively to achieve the best outcome as a team.
Day 3: Caving 🪨
Caving was a completely new experience for me — exciting, challenging, and honestly a little scary at times. We had to navigate through very narrow spaces, climb through difficult areas, and support each other throughout the journey.
What stood out to me most was the importance of looking after one another. We encouraged each other when someone was tired, helped each other through difficult sections, and made sure nobody was left behind.
Once again, trust was at the centre of the experience. Whether it was relying on someone to give you a hand, helping someone through a narrow passage, or making sure someone behind you was okay, it was all about supporting each other.
I absolutely loved caving and would genuinely do it again. It was one of the most enriching experiences I’ve ever had because it combined adventure, teamwork, and a strong sense of connection with the people around me.
And then the last day came…
On our final day at Selside, none of us could quite believe it was already over. One of my friends, who is also a Laidlaw Scholar, described the feeling as a kind of “post-concert depression.” Even though I’ve never experienced that myself, I immediately understood what he meant.
For me, it felt more like finishing your favourite series for the very first time. You become so immersed in the experience, the people, and the memories that, when it’s over, everything feels strangely quiet. Part of you wishes you could erase your memory just to relive it all over again and experience those moments for the first time once more.
That’s exactly how Selside felt.
I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who shared this journey with me. It was more than just three days of climbing, hiking, and caving—it was three days of growth, trust, friendship, and memories that I’ll carry with me for a very long time. ✨