Students in Year 10 were privileged to welcome back Adam Zoromba (OL 2020) during Enrichment Week, as he delivered this academics years final Goldhawk Lecture on The Art of Resilience.

A valued School Ambassador within the alumni community, Adam shared an honest and inspiring account of the experiences that have shaped his journey since leaving John Lyon. His message was simple yet powerful: Resilience is not just about overcoming challenges, but about using adversity as a catalyst for growth.

Adam reflected on his time at school, recalling the unique challenge of sitting his examinations during the Covid pandemic. Despite the uncertainty, he remained focused on his ambitions whilst continuing to embrace opportunities beyond the classroom. A talented performer, Adam took leading roles in school drama productions, including Henry V, and his passion for the arts led him to attend drama classes at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith.

Alongside his creative pursuits, Adam excelled as a Sports Scholar, demonstrating exceptional commitment to both his academic studies and co-curricular life. As Captain of the 1st XI Football Team, he exemplified leadership, discipline and determination, qualities that would continue to define his path beyond school.

His hard work earned him a place at the London School of Economics, where he studied Law and Anthropology, before going on to complete a Master's degree in Politics and Economics of the Middle East.

However, Adam's journey has not been without profound personal challenges. In 2023, he experienced the devastating loss of his brother, Fred, who passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack. Speaking candidly to students, Adam described this period as one of the most difficult of his life.

"I spent 2024 trying to build life back up again," he explained. "I had to evolve as a person and accept the pain of 2023."

Determined to honour his brother's memory, Adam embarked on a remarkable challenge in 2024, climbing the highest peaks across the UK to raise funds and awareness for the British Heart Foundation. Successfully completing the challenge provided both a physical and emotional outlet as he navigated grief. "The mountains allowed me to mourn and conquer," he told students.

Adam also channelled his energy into continuing his brother's entrepreneurial vision. In 2025, he founded Draper, inspired by Fred's original ambition to build a global textile business specialising in premium Egyptian cotton. Through the launch of Draper Wear and Draper Textiles, Adam has continued to develop networks in both London and Cairo, helping to bring that vision to life.

Today, alongside developing Draper, Adam works at Revolut, balancing his professional career with his entrepreneurial ambitions.

Throughout the lecture, Adam encouraged students to embrace challenges, remain adaptable and never underestimate their ability to redefine their future. His story demonstrated that resilience is not an innate talent, but a skill that can be developed through perseverance, self-belief and purpose.

Concluding his talk, Adam left students with a powerful message:

"My story proves that even when you hit rock bottom, if you challenge yourself enough, pray and put one foot in front of the other every day, you can change the trajectory of your life. You must surround yourself with those that inspire you. You must be relentless in pursuit of the life you want to build for yourself and those around you. After all, death is guaranteed for all of us. Live each day with the mantra: 'What do I want to be remembered for?'"

We are incredibly grateful to Adam for sharing his inspiring story and for continuing to give back to the John Lyon community. His resilience, leadership and determination left a lasting impression on all that attended the lecture.

If you are an Old Lyonian and would like to support current pupils through careers talks, mentoring, networking opportunities, or work experience placements, we would love to hear from you. Please contact the Alumni Office to get involved.