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Ambition, Dreams and Getting Back Up: Neil Taylor on What It Really Takes

Every parent knows that moment. Your child comes home with a dream that feels enormous, and part of you wants to cheer while another part quietly worries about how much it might hurt if it doesn’t work out.

In this episode of Let Them Fly, Heather sits down with former professional footballer Neil Taylor to talk honestly about chasing a big dream, and what happens along the way. Neil knows the thrill of reaching the top of his sport, but he also knows the setbacks nobody sees from the stands: the injuries, the rejections, the pressure, and the days when giving up would have been easier.

Together they explore:

• Where ambition really comes from, and how parents can nurture it without adding pressure
• Why resilience is built in the hard moments, not the easy ones
• The role family played in keeping Neil grounded and moving forward
• Balancing a demanding dream with school, friendships and growing up
• What young people need to hear when things don’t go to plan
• Life after professional sport, and why your identity is bigger than one dream

Whether your child is football-mad, dreaming of a stage, a lab or a business of their own, or simply finding their feet in a new country, this conversation is full of warmth, honesty and practical wisdom for every family raising ambitious, hopeful children.

Because our job isn’t to stop them falling. It’s to teach them how to get back up, and then let them fly.

Listen now and share it with a parent who needs it today.

Let Them Fly is brought to you by Heather Harries Education Hub, supporting families across the Middle East from FS1 to university and beyond.

https://www.heatherharries.com

Send us Fan Mail

https://www.heatherharries.com

Send us Fan Mail

Every parent in the Gulf knows the name Dubai College. Most of us have wondered what really goes on behind those gates, and whether a school that academic could ever be the right place for our child.

In this episode of Let Them Fly, Heather sits down with Tomas Duckling, Headmaster of Dubai College, for a warm and candid conversation about what it takes to raise confident, kind and capable young people in one of the most ambitious school communities in the region.

Tomas shares why he believes kindness is the foundation of all good education, and how character matters just as much as grades. He talks about the pressure our children feel in a high-achieving city like Dubai, and what parents can do at home to help them grow without breaking. For families weighing up their options, he also gives an honest view of what makes a selective school the right fit for one child and not another.

Whether your child is just starting school, preparing for secondary entrance or looking ahead to university, this conversation will leave you reassured, inspired and thinking differently about what success really looks like.

Because the greatest gift we can give our children isn't a perfect path. It's the wings to find their own.

🎧 Listen, share with a friend who's navigating the school maze, and don't forget to subscribe.

Heather Harries Education Hub: supporting families across the Middle East for over ten years, from FS1 to university, with school placement, tutoring, SEN support, homeschooling, and careers and university guidance.

https://www.heatherharries.com