Kellett Kaleidescope: OK interviews

Our students are launching a new student newspaper called Kellett Kaleidoscope. The students interviewed two Old Kellettonians, Tabitha Grandolfo (OK2007-21) who worked on student newspaper Kellett Tell It during their time at Kellett.  Tabitha(OK 2007-21) is now a trustee of Friends of Kellett School (FOKS). She's keen to connect with other OKs in the US as we gear up to celebrate Kellett's 50th Anniversary in 2026. 

What interested you to learn about psychology and theatre arts?

Since I go to university in the US, I was able to explore multiple subjects before deciding on my degrees of study. At Kellett, I had no idea what I wanted to study at university so I’m very glad I had the opportunity to explore first! I like my combination of theatre and psychology because I am able to use both my creative and analytical sides, but the subjects have a lot more overlap than people would think!

I was always interested in human behavior, especially in interpersonal relationships, which lends itself very well to both Theatre and Psychology. Most of my classes are social psychology based, so it’s all about why people behave the way they do. I end up using information I learn in my psychology classes to my theatre ones to help me understand the characters better.

How did Kellett inspire you to get where you are today?

I was at Kellett from 2007 - 2021, so I wouldn’t be anything without Kellett! I think Kellett’s motto “a love of learning and confidence for life” sums it up pretty well. Teachers made learning fun, and inspired me to put my best into every piece of work I did. I also took on many different leadership positions during my time at Kellett, culminating in being one of the head students. Without these opportunities and support from the Kellett community, I wouldn’t have the confidence to believe in myself and take risks. 

What do you enjoy most about psychology, why?

I enjoy the breadth of what I get to study, everything from animal behavior to sociological theories! I also really like the relevance of the material and its applicability to everyday life. Like I mentioned before, it helps me in my theatre classes, but it also is useful in many other ways. Animal behavior classes taught me how to train my dog, I am able to understand why people might act a certain way (It is super interesting to apply theories I learn in class to people in my life, or even characters in movies!), I even took a class where we studied the psychology of ‘fake news’ (which has especially relevant in 2024 in the US)

What is your favourite memory of Kellett, why?

This is a hard question! I was at Kellett for 14 years, so I have a lot of great memories. The obvious answers would be the Global Outlook Week trips that I went on. Aside from experiencing an amazing country for the first time, spending a week straight with my year group was a great way for us to connect. Taking freezing cold showers in Cambodia because the shower heating didn’t work, while not pleasant in the moment, are now funny stories for me to look back on.

Another favorite memory that I think encapsulates Kellett was one of the house hikes. The day we were supposed to hike, there was heavy rain which prevented us from actually completing the hike, so instead the entire senior school walked laps around the Kowloon Bay campus. To this day, it serves as a great reminder to not let setbacks stop me from reaching my goals!

What advice would you give to current students at Kellett and why?

• Something people don’t realize is the important role attitude plays in success, towards learning and to others.

Having a positive attitude towards learning: 

• Showing up and engaging in lessons is so important! You learn so much more by asking/answering questions and participating. (Makes it easier to revise, too!)
• Putting time and effort into your classwork and homework. It’s not worth it to cut corners. Even if people make fun of you for ‘trying too hard’  (I remember some people who did that), ignore them! I can guarantee that doing a poor piece of work is much more embarrassing than trying to hard.

Having a positive attitude towards others:

• I think the idea of respect is important here. It isn’t difficult to be nice to other people. If you are having an issue with a friend, talk to them about it instead of going behind their back. It’s a simple sign of respect, yet some people at Kellett have difficulty doing this. If you are watching a performance or presentation (by a teacher or classmate), pay attention to the person presenting. People don’t realize how not only distracting this is to the performer/presenter, but also how it negatively affects someone’s confidence. (This is something that I experience in my university classes too, and generally is poor practice in whatever career field you enter)
• Respect the teachers and (especially) staff! Things like leaving huge messes and disrespecting teachers is not something you want to get into the habit of doing. How you carry yourself is so so important in both social and professional settings. Sometimes the difference between getting a job and being rejected can come down to your attitude and respect to others.

What year at Kellett was the most memorable and why?

Maybe this is recency bias, but the 2019-2020 school year (Year 12) was very memorable. Starting A Levels and adjusting to Sixth Form was already a memorable change, but the COVID 19 pandemic is what made the year most memorable (unfortunately). Doing school online, waiting to see if school would be open. Definitely not something I want to experience again, but it’s going to be something I will remember forever.

What job do you hope to have in the future?

I don’t really have a ‘dream job’! My interests are very broad so I would be happy doing a lot of things. This past summer I worked at a documentary production studio that focuses on documentary for social impact, which was really fun and fulfilling. Once the school year started, I took on a remote position to help plan a financial education tour at universities across the US, which has been an amazing experience!

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Below are some of Tabitha current picture and past photos with her twin sister Sophia when they were at school (log in to view).