Sir Godfrey Gregg

School curricula can’t possibly cover every fascinating subject in the world. The holiday break gives you precious freedom to explore topics you’re genuinely curious about but never have time for during the busy school year. This self-directed learning is often the most memorable and impactful because it is driven by a genuine interest rather than external requirements.

What have you always wanted to know more about? Ancient civilizations? How do aeroplanes fly? Coding and computer programming? Marine biology? The solar system? Famous artists or musicians? Cooking or baking science? Choose any topic that genuinely excites you and spend your holiday diving deep into it through books, documentaries, articles, or hands-on experimentation.

This type of learning feels completely different from schoolwork because you’re in control. There’s no test at the end, no grade to worry about, just pure curiosity being satisfied. Yet the skills you develop—research abilities, critical thinking, deep focus, information synthesis—transfer directly to your academic work. You’re becoming a better learner overall by learning about things that you love.

Passionate learning often leads to unexpected places. Maybe your interest in dinosaurs will lead to a future in palaeontology. Perhaps learning to code during the holidays sparks a career in technology. Exploring astronomy might lead to physics becoming your favourite subject. You never know where curiosity will take you, but following it always enriches your life.

Document your learning journey. Keep a journal about what you’re discovering, create a project, or teach someone else what you’ve learned. This active engagement deepens understanding and makes learning more memorable. The holiday break offers time that the regular school year doesn’t—time to follow your curiosity wherever it leads. Please don’t waste it. Use this gift of time to become fascinated by something new and watch how that fascination grows into knowledge, skills, and perhaps even direction for your future.