Nana is “more excited than nervous” to go to university. “It’s quite daunting as I’m moving out for the first time and going to a really prestigious institution,” she explains. She’s off to the University of Cambridge to study Human, Social and Political Sciences – a course she’s been interested in for two years now.
“Politics, anthropology, sociology, international relations – they all intersect and have similarities,” she explains. “What excites me most about the course is that you get to choose your own stream in your second year.”
“Before The Access Project I didn’t have high aspirations”
Nana went to Oasis Academy Hadley. She was tutored in English Literature. “My tutor made me fall in love with English Literature,” she says. “She helped me academically and taught me to broaden my horizons and the importance of wider reading. Not only that but she put me in touch with people she knew from Cambridge who helped me with my personal statement.”
Her tutor went above and beyond. “She’s even helped me to secure some work experience in the civil service before university!”
Nana speaks highly of her in-school mentor, Reanne. “I could go to Reanne for anything,” she explains. “She went above and beyond her duties as a University Access Officer.”
Her experience on The Access Project was one that helped her not only academically but also helped her to grow as a person. “Before The Access Project I didn’t have high aspirations. The Access Project widened my ambitions.”
Transition to university
The transition to university can be difficult for our students. This year we are organising our Transition Week from 23 to 27 August – providing useful webinars for students to support them into university.
Nana has signed up to be paired with a peer mentor – someone who has taken part in The Access Project and also gone on to study at Cambridge. She’s really excited to learn from her peer mentor: “I always love learning from people who have experience in something. I think they will be able to support me.”
She went on to say: “The Access Project doesn’t just end after school – their support goes on into university and I think that’s a really good thing.”