An internationally acclaimed humanitarian told students at her former school to ‘have the courage to follow your heart, trust your instincts, and share your talent with the world.’
Kate Newton, who was awarded an MBE for services to emergency and humanitarian relief, in recognition of her groundbreaking work in international humanitarian affairs, spoke to an audience of students, parents and staff during Bradford Grammar School’s prestigious annual Speech Day.
Kate said: “My advice to all young people is your time is limited, don’t waste it living somebody else’s life, have the courage to follow your heart and trust your instincts. Your mind is very powerful, much more powerful than you know, and if you adopt an attitude of total enthusiasm, you will get there.”
Since leaving BGS, Kate has worked in many troubled countries including Syria, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Haiti. She is currently a humanitarian adviser for the Department for International Development, having previously been Deputy Country Director for the UN World Food Programme in Syria.
Returning to her Yorkshire roots, she said: “I absolutely loved my time at BGS. The skills that I learnt at BGS, whether it’s how to form an argument, how to write an essay or how to stand up and speak, are never far from my thoughts. I hope that in the future today’s pupils will share their talents with the world, come back to school, and continue to help it flourish. The teachers are incredibly inspiring – and I urge all the students to try and keep in touch with the school.”
“Bradford is a great place to be and the city is feeling more interconnected each time I return. BGS is part of a growing connectivity and civic interaction. You can feel it in the atmosphere and I think this is fantastic for the students.”
Simon Hinchliffe, BGS Headmaster said: “We were delighted to welcome Kate back to BGS. Her visit has been a great success with overwhelmingly positive feedback. She is a compelling speaker with a wealth of experience and wisdom drawn from her professional and personal life. Her tremendous passion for tackling poverty and educating the young is inspiring.”
“My advice to all young people is your time is limited, don’t waste it living somebody else’s life, have the courage to follow your heart and trust your instincts.
Your mind is very powerful, much more powerful than you know, and if you adopt an attitude of total enthusiasm, you will get there.”
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