“Being one of the first in my family to go to university, let alone a Russell Group university, I have found it less easy to access the kind of mentorship we need to be successful in today’s world of work.”
I’m currently a second-year undergraduate student studying Electrical and Information Engineering at Imperial College London. Being one of the first in my family to go to university, let alone a Russell Group university, I have found it less easy to access the kind of mentorship we need to be successful in today’s world of work. For example, I didn’t even know that opportunities such as internships and spring weeks existed! In the past this has impacted the way I thought about post-graduation careers and opportunities. My first year consisted of a lot of research into careers, as my main aim is to secure a top job offer when I graduate.
I spent the first part of my childhood in East London, before moving to a small area just outside Birmingham. As a Christian, I believe that God has a plan for each of us and moving from London enabled me to grow as an individual, as I had to learn to adapt quickly to new environments. Moving from London helped me realise the importance of studying and hard work – my academic results quickly improved thanks to my newly found determination. Receiving my offer from Imperial felt remarkable as I was able to return to London as an undergraduate studying in one of the world’s best universities!
During my first year I joined upReach, a charity which brings together leading employers and universities to support students from lower socio-economic backgrounds such as myself. I have taken up lots of opportunities to boost my professional profile; one highlight has been the Tech500 bootcamp which opened my eyes into the world of work for financial tech firms such as G-Research and JMAN. I also took part in Google’s Annual Black Googlers Network Hackathon where I emerged the winner (along with an incredibly gifted team) after four days of programming! This summer I am enjoying working at Goldman Sachs as an Engineering Summer Analyst.
I am extremely proud to have been nominated for a Tech Sector Award at upReach’s Student Social Mobility Awards in July 2024. Unfortunately I didn’t win, but I had an amazing time at the event. Awards like these serve as a motivation to continue improving my professional profile and remind me what I’m capable of achieving, which is a great confidence boost.
Coming from a low-income background and being the first in my family to attend a top Russell Group University, I hope my achievements will help to motivate others and remind people that your goals are achievable, as long as you keep yourself motivated and stay determined!