“I entered university through the H.E.A.R scheme. I thought I was so different to everybody else who entered college, but once I was given this scholarship and realised how many others were just like me, it gave me huge confidence. I no longer felt like an outlier. I was really worried about little things like being able to afford a leap card and being able to afford food on campus. I knew I wouldn’t be financially able to just go out for food with my friends on campus.

I also didn’t have a laptop going into college: I didn’t realise I needed one. I couldn’t ask anybody about university, in my family, I am the first in a family of ten to go to college so there was no one around me that I could really ask all questions that I had about it.

I used the funds to get my laptop. I bought a printer and a monthly subscription for ink. I was able to buy a desk for all the classes we have online this year. I definitely would have struggled this year without buying a desk to study at. With the scholarship, I didn’t even have to think about or stress about the financial burden a laptop, desk or printer would be. I just bought them and was able to just focus on my grades. I would have struggled a lot going into college without the scholarship. I don’t know if I would have had the means to continue, especially this year, without the help from the scholarship.

I feel so privileged and grateful to be in this position and to not have to worry about the financial aspects of college. People like me really need that support. Look how far I am going to go because of this scholarship! I feel so much more confident that someone believed in me to give me the financial support to go forward in my studies. Without that, I don’t know where I would have ended up.”