The LGBTQ+ club at Fairfield High School (FHS) was treated to a special virtual speaker, Millie Morfitt, who shared her experiences and gave details of free self defence and fitness classes for the body and mind, exclusively for FHS students.
As a personal trainer specialising in supporting the LGBTQ+ community and allies with their holistic health and fitness goals, Millie focuses on a holistic approach, creating a safe and non-judgemental environment. The classes at FHS will welcome anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+ and focuses as much on physical fitness as mental health. Millie reassured students that they won’t be participating in scary bootcamp sessions, but more as much of the circuit session they feel they can do with a warm up and cool down either side.
It was suffering with anxiety – unfortunately all too common for many young people – that helped Millie discover movement and its benefits. She explained that 99% of the time, moving and exercise helps alleviate people’s worries. Furthermore, being able to offer classes aimed specifically at the LGBTQ+ community helps people feel safer than many mainstream classes, which are not always so welcoming due to social expectations. Something she can vouch for first hand.
Millie’s honest approach to growing up, her experiences and inspirations were humbling. At age 12 she was obsessed with Dr Who, in particular Rose Tyler. Like many young people she wished she could be like her and dress like her. However, she didn’t have the same feelings as her friends towards boys; she just couldn’t relate to it. After her younger brother came out as gay, this gave Millie the confidence she needed to also confide in her parents. They were incredibly supportive, as were her friends.
Millie gave this advice, “Even when you come out, it’s an on-going thing throughout your life as people will often make the wrong assumptions. However, the more confident you are within yourself, the more healthy you will feel. The key is to keep talking about these things as much as you can. Don’t forget to be yourself and don’t change for anybody. I wish I had had a similar society at school. I felt really isolated, so a club like this would have made the world of difference.”
Edel Cronin, Vice Principal at Fairfield High School, commented, “A big thank you to Millie for speaking with us so openly and honestly about her background and experiences. We are really fortunate too that Millie will be leading the self defence and fitness classes at Fairfield; her expertise will ensure the impact on the students’ physical and mental well-being is far-reaching.”