Profile sixteen
I’m 18 years old and I live with my mum in Liverpool. I have just done my A levels at King David High School. In my results I got an A in Geography and two Cs in English Language and English Literature. I was really happy with my Geography grade because I have always had a passion for Geography from a very young age and knew I wanted to study it at University. I’m going to be studying Geography with Study Overseas at the Manchester Metropolitan University. One of the best things about Geography is that there are so many aspects of the course and subject that its gives me lots of options for a career in the future. I’m still unsure about what I want to do after university but if the degree course goes well I’m hoping to go on to do a Masters course in Geography too.
The grant from John Moran will help me so much because I was really worried about finance at university. I currently live in a single parent family and never could have considered going to university without the help from the Student Loans Company to pay my fees and maintenance loan which I will then pay back after studying. This worry of debt was a daunting prospect and it did put me off going to university. With going to Manchester, I couldn’t live at home so accommodation costs would be a big worry. John Moran’s grant of £1000 has helped incredibly and all I can say is I am so grateful to the members of the Trust who have decided to give me this and also for their really welcoming and friendly approach at the interview. I was so nervous beforehand but the Trust made me feel so comfortable and put my nerves at ease.
Because I will be studying Geography things like field trips are important and the cost of these was also something I was concerned about. Now, with the Trust’s help, fieldtrips and text books will be less of a burden financially because of the huge amount of help they are giving towards accommodation fees. I am also hoping to find some part time work when I get to Manchester but even doing this would still have left me short financially if it wasn’t for the grant.
I decided to go to the Manchester Metropolitan University because it offered the opportunity to study Geography with time overseas. This means that I have the option to study either all or part of second year in one of several universities in Australia. In addition, Manchester Met was full of really friendly people and the course content sounds really interesting. With the opportunity to study in Australia, the extra cost of flights is something I will have to bear so the financial cost will be quite substantial. One comfort is that the Trust has offered me the grant which will ease some worries towards the cost of accommodation whilst over there.
Finally, I would again like to thank the Trust for all their help and to express my gratitude because it will make such a difference to my time at university.
'My first year at Manchester Metropolitan was academically really fulfilling but unfortunately several things were a slight let down. The course I had originally chosen was Geography with study overseas. Unfortunately, at my first meeting at university I was told that Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia had dropped out that year so I would be unable to take up the option of a year overseas. This was a major let down as that was one of the main reasons I chose to go to Manchester Metropolitan University. Also, during the year I was unable to secure a part time job. If it wasn’t for the grant from the Trust I would have struggled financially. These things led me to doubt the wisdom of staying in Manchester and in turn led to my approach to Liverpool University. I was told by Liverpool University that I would be able to transfer to second year easily as long as I passed my first year at Man Met. I then made a formal application to the University of Liverpool and was accepted to start year two in September 2009.
The award from the Trust has been a real help through my first year. The money was used for buying books, equipment such as walking boots for field trips etc. Also, it has been a comfort knowing that even though I was unable to get a job I was still supported financially during university by the money from the award.
In addition, I really enjoyed my course at Manchester Metropolitan University and I am expecting to carry on enjoying Geography in Liverpool. I am going to be studying a mixture of human and physical modules and I also have the option to study a couple of modules from different departments during my second year. Another positive aspect of moving back is that I am able to go back to my part time job which I had before going to Manchester. This means I can support myself further with my studies.'
