Grace delivers talk on happiness at Amherst’s High Academic Potential Pupils (HAPPs) event
Dr Grace Hutchinson (OLCS 2005) was the guest speaker at Amherst’s recent annual HAPPs (High Academic Potential Pupils) Dinner and Presentation Evening, taking the opportunity to speak about the importance of friendship being the key to a long and happy life.
This special event was held to recognise and showcase the independent research of the pupils in the programme and has become one of the most anticipated events in the Amherst calendar.
She says; ‘The main message I wanted to get across was that being at Amherst will give each and every one of the children life’s greatest gift, friendship.’
Grace in her speech referred to The Harvard Study of Adult Development and how it was created to track the health and happiness of the participants to understand what contributed to a healthy, happy life. After 85 years (and counting!) the study revealed that close relationships (friendships and romantic relationships), more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives.
"being at Amherst will give each and every one of the children life's greatest gift, friendship"
She said: ‘Those ties protect people from life’s discontents, help to delay mental and physical decline, and are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, or even genes. Friendship is one of the keys to happiness in life and I found very special friendship at OLCS which have helped me through the highs and lows I’ve experienced after leaving school. I will be forever grateful to OLCS for helping me make friendships I will cherish for the rest of my life.’
Marc Vastenavondt, Head of Sixth Form said: “The event was testament to Amherst’s drive for academic excellence which nurtures and develops the whole student; from helping hone communications skills to support in presenting to a wide and varied audience.
Grace added: ‘It was truly wonderful to be back at OLCS and see how things have changed but have also stayed very much the same. It was clear that The Amherst School has maintained the caring, supportive and nurturing environment that I remember from my time there. The children were all incredibly passionate about their chosen subject and very eloquent in their explanation of the facts they’d discovered. I had a lovely evening speaking with the children and I hope to return to future events to watch their progression through the years and see them flourish.’
