There was a real buzz in the hall at Hunslet Carr Primary School this week as former pupil Lisa Zheng, aged 17, returned to deliver a highly engaging Road Safety assembly to children in Years 3 and 4. Now studying at Elliot Hudson Sixth Form College, Lisa visited the school alongside her college friend Mae Creed, bringing energy, confidence and a powerful message that left pupils feeling inspired.
Before starting the assembly, Lisa spoke warmly about her time at Hunslet Carr and the lasting impact of the school’s ethos, “Impossible is Nothing.” She explained how those words had helped shape her attitude to learning and ambition long after she left primary school.
“I remember our ‘Impossible is Nothing’ and I carried it with me even when I left the school,” Lisa said. “I wanted to do an assembly about Road Safety. I knew I could email Mr Lumb, the Headteacher, so I asked him! I knew this project would be possible to do, so I worked hard and made this presentation because I always believe in ‘impossible is nothing’ and even though I was a little nervous, I pushed through it, and it felt so good.”
Lisa also shared her dreams for the future, telling pupils that she hopes to become a nurse, helping people who are in need and making a positive difference in her community.
The assembly itself was lively, interactive and full of practical learning. Lisa and Mae led the children through a series of real-life road safety scenarios, asking pupils to show a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down depending on whether they thought each situation was safe. The hall was filled with excitement as the children discussed their reasoning, listened to one another, and learned the importance of making safe choices near roads.
Teachers reported that pupils returned to their classrooms buzzing with ideas and eager to take part in follow-up activities. Many spent the afternoon designing their own Road Safety posters, inspired by what they had learned and by the confidence of the young presenters who had stood where they stand now.
The children were full of praise for Lisa and Mae. One pupil said:
“It’s so cool that they used to come here and they are giving us an assembly. It shows how hard they’ve worked.”
Another added:
“It was kind of surprising because I’ve never seen a young student do an assembly before – I was impressed.”
A third child summed up the mood by saying,
“I think it was amazing because it was a student and normally it’s just adults doing it — and she knew lots!”
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