Education
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I have always been an opportunist, though. If there was more work to do, or something new to learn, I wanted to be involved. I was always asking, "What else can I do?" That mindset led me to discover Seren, a Welsh Government-supported programme designed to support academically talented students and encourage them to aim for competitive academic opportunities. Seren students are given access to things like university, summer schools, and academic guidance, which might otherwise be difficult to access.
My journey through education has never been completely straightforward. In fact, much of it has been about finding opportunities in places where I did not always feel that they existed. I attended an ordinary comprehensive secondary school in rural Wales, where my experience was shaped in part by bullying and part by the challenges I faced with my dyslexia. I then went on to the local college, but there too, I often felt that the staff were working within an underfunded system, and they'd lost the enthusiasm about the subjects they were teaching, and didn't give me the inspiration I was looking for.
There was just one problem: I did not actually meet the academic criteria to qualify. My grades in maths and science were not strong enough- something particularly frustrating since I am dyscalculic. But I decided that I was not going to let that stop me. Instead, I looked at what the Seren students were applying for and thought: "Why shouldn't I apply too?" So I did.
I applied independently to opportunities like Jesus College Oxford Summer School and Yale Summer School. And unexpectedly, it worked. I secured personal scholarships, which enabled me to attend.
For me, this proved something important: sometimes the criteria that initially exclude you do not have to define what you are capable of achieving. I carried that attitude with me through A levels. I achieved results I am incredibly proud of and was honoured to receive the Principal's Outstanding Achievement Award 2024.
After A level, I went on to study at the University of Exeter, studying BA in Liberal Arts with an English major. I absolutely loved my degree. One of the things that attracted me was its modularity: I was able to explore a wide range of subjects, follow my interests and build an education around the questions I actually wanted to ask.
True to form, I continued looking for opportunities beyond my degree. During my first year at university, I applied for a summer school at Venice International University. Once again, I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship. The experience gave me the incredible chance to meet people from all different backgrounds and experience an academic opportunity far removed from the educational environments I had known growing up.
Six months interning with an environmental organisation, six more working for my Student Guild, and two years running a women’s magazine with over 50 members later, I somehow found myself at graduation!
I graduated with a First Class degree, alongside a Dean's Commendation for Performance under Exceptional Circumstances.
On reflection, I think the thread running through my education is that I am not always the obvious candidate, but what I do have is curiosity, persistence and a willingness to ask.
