August 1991, at the age of 17 in a Viking glider at a VGS. ZE682
Best way to go about it, I think. The winch launch got you up to 1000ft so fast (about 20seconds), you didn't really have time to think about what you were up to until you pulled the release and trimmed out (with the trim in an odd position). Then you think to yourself "Great! Now I just have to get back down..."
There are two types of people on their first solo circuit: talkers and singers.
First solo with a donk: C-152 G-BHRM at Wellesbourne Mountford on a Flying Scholarship. We were each assigned an aircraft for the course, that one was mine. RM used to terrify other studes if they were detailed to fly a solo sortie in it, because it had larger fuel tanks (6hrs vs 4) and taking off with 50% more fuel had the effect of the frangible fence looming much larger in their windscreen than they were used to.
Cheers, Rodney!