In this section, our ex-ambassadors, PhD students, and graduates talk about the impact outreach has had on them as they reflect on their own unique educational journeys through University and beyond. Jump straight to their stories:
Nathan Addai, University of Derby Graduate and former Student Ambassador
Working with the Widening Access (WA) team has created some standout memories and experiences in the two years I have been a Student Ambassador at Derby.
Through this work, I have had the opportunity to visit schools and share my university experience and subject knowledge with GCSE and Sixth Form students.
As a student ambassador, what I have enjoyed the most about working with the WA team is opening school and college students’ eyes to the variety of personalities and learning styles that university can accommodate today. I have had the privilege of engaging with students of various academic abilities, and it has been rewarding seeing their faces change with enthusiasm when hearing about degrees in Animation (my BA course), Motorsport Engineering, Policing, or other professions that they hadn’t considered before and sound exciting to them.
In WA workshops, I’ve enjoyed seeing secondary school students creating their own daily university schedules, having one on one conversations with students while conducting campus tours, and giving encouraging words of advice for pupils who feel they don’t ‘fit in’ or feel culturally/ethnically alienated – something I relate to from my own school experience.
Looking back, it would have greatly boosted my confidence and vision if I had been given the chance to experience something like the University of Derby’s outreach events, while at secondary school. Leaving a legacy is one of my biggest passions in life and I feel I have had the freedom to do that in my own authentic, little way through the engagements I have made with pupils in WA events.
Anisha Johal, University of Derby Graduate and former Student Ambassador
We all have something that we attribute our successes, achievements, and accomplishments to, and for me, that something is the University of Derby. Simply put, the University has made me who I am today.
In 2019, I graduated with a First Class BA (Hons) degree in English and was awarded a competitive fully funded academic scholarship to study my Masters at the University of Nottingham. Throughout my time at Derby, I worked in 14 paid roles and eight voluntary roles at the University, completed 18 Futures Awards, and won three awards (one which included a trip to New York and Washington DC in America on the University’s International Travel Awards). I also worked in 14 roles outside of the University, including Sky News in London and multiple roles in the BBC.
I’m really passionate about helping others to uncover their full potential and reach for the stars, which is why I applied to become an Outreach Mentor/Student Ambassador in my first year of University. In this role I have worked with students of all ages at outreach events such as Buxton Summer Schools, Girls Get Motivated Summer School, English Raising the Grade, and Derby Scholars. Being in a position to inspire, encourage and empower others motivated me to get stuck in with countless events and projects in Widening Access.
I loved my course and excelled academically as studying was like a hobby for me. The freedom offered on my course to pursue research into areas of interest led to me studying Panjabi culture, Sikh faith and Disney, and writing many essays in these areas. I was also the youngest to present my research at conferences across the country, including ones held at the University of Oxford, University of Warwick and University of Nottingham. My strong academic performance, experience and awards led to me being awarded a scholarship to study my Masters, which I graduated with a Merit in December 2020.
All of the phenomenal opportunities that the University of Derby offers resulted in me becoming one of the UK’s Top 10 Undergraduates of the Year 2019 for Impactful Social Action. I was also nominated for the University’s Graduate of the Year Award and I’m a Finalist in the national Women of the Future Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2021 for the Social and Humanitarian category. I never imagined that my work would be recognised nationally and Derby has played a huge part in this.
You too can grow, flourish and blossom here at the University of Derby.
Wykeham Bosworth-Nightingale, University of Derby PhD student and Student Ambassador
I participated in a University of Derby Widening Access event when I was in secondary education at Belper School and Sixth Form Centre. The event was a visit to the University, which included a tour of the campus at Kedleston Road, a presentation detailing how to apply to a University through UCAS and the benefits of studying higher education, as well as removing any previous misconceptions about university.
I cannot express the sheer positive impact this one visit had on my life. I had always wanted to study to become a primary school teacher since the age of 10, however as I had no previous family members who had attended university, this was an area of education that I found difficult to understand how to get into. I didn’t really know what a university was like or even if I would feel comfortable learning there for three years.
Most important to me was visiting the campus. It was a wonderful experience that allowed me to see where I may study. Although there were details on the University website, because I had never visited a university before, seeing the sheer size and facilities in person really allowed me to explore the area and get a sense of the learning atmosphere and university life. It most definitely motivated me to work harder when I got back to school; it just fuelled my love for education and secured my passion for wanting to become a primary school teacher.
The experience has stuck in my mind, and consequently, I went on to study at the University of Derby. While there I was further inspired to work within the Widening Access department as a Student Ambassador so I could help inspire others through delivering primary schools events to groups of young children who may never have considered going to University before.
