I can honestly say my time as a Keele student has been an unforgettable experience. However, my path to university was far from traditional, or straightforward.

I left college three months in as I hated it, I had no idea what I wanted to do and felt lost so found myself working full time instead. This gave me several years of wondering what my next step would be. I was unsure if university was still an option, but it had always been my dream since I was younger.

I discovered that an Access course was an option, allowing me to work alongside studying while still gaining the UCAS points required to go to university. Now looking back this feels like a lifetime ago, but I know I have made the right decision.

When it came to choosing my course, I was impressed by the opportunity to do a combined honours degree, which Keele offers. This means I get to learn from two different schools within the University, undertaking a wider variety of modules and gaining the opportunity to apply both in unison.

During my time here, I have learnt not just about my course, but about myself. As part of Keele’s DJing society, (Dance Music Kollective), I have developed not just a new hobby but the confidence to DJ in front of crowds. This opportunity would not have been possible without the incredible community Keele has. The friendships made will be lifelong.

Keele has helped me combat the feeling of pressure of not knowing what I want to do in life, feeling tied down by expectations and overwhelmed by options. As someone who did not take a traditional path to university, but also the first in my immediate family to go to university, this pressure weigh on me.

But overall, I remain positive as I am determined to keep making the most of my time here, both academic and non-academic. Despite being a couple of years older than some of my peers I have never felt out of place, and have realised through many people I have met how common it is to start university later through taking a gap year or to start with a foundation year, even changing course. All of this is part of the experience, and I am so happy I took the path I did. For anyone who is thinking of coming to Keele, do it.