I was the first member of my family to attend university after going to a state comprehensive school, so Bristol provided me with the opportunity to meet people from a whole cross-section of backgrounds, cultures and countries, giving me great confidence as well as shaping my future values.

There was much support from university staff to support my studies and the facilities enabled me to develop my academic interests further through excellent access to a range of libraries across the University site.

Bristol has provided lifelong friendships. It also gave me the opportunity to take up rowing which I continued after university whilst living in Cambridge.

It was studying at Bristol that inspired me to teach geography, giving me the confidence to develop my career in education and take on senior leadership positions relatively early in my career.

I’ve since taught in a variety of schools in Essex, holding posts from Head of Year, through to Head of Sixth Form, Deputy Headteacher and Headteacher. I’ve also written various articles in geographical and educational journals.

Bristol’s international reputation and the excellence of its geography department has helped open doors – and encouraged me to believe that anything is possible with a Bristol degree.