Student Profile: James Gibson
Describe yourself in three words.
Proactive, sociable, dedicated.
What are your favourite subjects and why?
History, Politics, and Religious Studies are my absolute favourite subjects. Each lets me study an aspect of our lives that I find incredibly fascinating. My favourite thing about all three subjects is that the same issues can very easily be studied across all three subjects. Being able to study the Arab-Israeli conflict in a historical context from its inception, in a political context through its modern-day impacts, and a religious context through the significance of Jerusalem and the region to the Abrahamic faiths has given me an in-depth and multi-faceted insight into a deeply pressing issue that I would not otherwise have.
What kinds of extracurricular activities do you do and why?
I love to participate in debate and I think that no other activity has benefited me more. Participating in debate competitions is a fantastic way to meet other engaged people who are passionate about world issues, and it’s so important in developing communication skills that have helped me in almost every subject I study.
On top of that, Model United Nations is a great activity to learn and engage in international relations and pressing global issues, and actually approach issues in an entirely new, interdisciplinary manner.
But beyond forensics, musical practice in a band or alone has been a great stress relief and creative outlet for me that’s resulted in some performances that I’m really proud of.
What opportunities has your school given you that you would not have had otherwise?
It’d be difficult to count the opportunities I wouldn’t have had if I weren’t a student at Marlborough. Marlborough introduced me to debate and MUN and offered me places on trips I wouldn’t have been able to do alone, and because of that, I’ve been able to win trophies and awards at global competitions. Being at Marlborough took me all the way to Yale University for a debate competition at which my team placed 4th overall out of thousands, for which I’m incredibly thankful.
If you could change one thing about being a student at your school, what would it be?
I’d probably introduce even more trips and programs to the school. We have plenty on offer already but I always think there’s room for more.
Describe your school in three words.
Communal, holistic, active.
What do you hope to do when you finish school?
I’ll be attending Oxford University to study Theology and Religion.
What do you think is the biggest problem with the world today? What can you do about it?
Ignorance. I think one of the most important things is to be conscious of the people not just around you, but far from you as well. I think it is far too easy to be unaware of significant and impactful issues that we should be aware of and we should devote our time to, and I think sometimes we can be unaware of issues central to the people around us. The only thing I can do to solve this issue is to raise awareness myself. Committing myself to causes I’m passionate about or at least taking the time to understand issues I may be less aware of. Actively informing others and promoting discussion about issues locally may not solve an issue on a global scale but it’s certainly a start.