My favourite memories were created in my final year. This was mainly due to experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic all alone in accommodation without seeing my family for over three years. The experience made me appreciate everything in life including education, family, and human connection twice as much as I did before. Also, by year three, with four years of university study in the bag (I studied a Foundation year course), I felt that I was a completely different person from how much I learned and matured that I welcomed the extra challenges and independency with open arms. I felt as if I was ready to take over the world haha! My favourite memory involves working in the labs on my final year honours project (I did Dr Matthew Conner's '’Trafficking of Aquaporins in Mammalian Cells’' project). Having had no previous practical experience whatsoever from school or college, the process was extremely challenging for me, with many ups and downs and there were far too many times I wanted to give up. Thankfully, with faith, courage, mental resilience and the never-ending support I received from my family and Clare Murcott, the lab technician who helped me immensely in my honours project (a true gem!), I persevered and ended up not only achieving an outstanding overall score of 93% on my honours project and a First Class classification in my degree course, but being awarded both The Biosciences Project Prize and the Biochemical Society Undergraduate Recognition Award for ‘’submitting the best final year biosciences project’’ and being ‘’the best Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics student’’, respectively. I have also created some great memories with some of my lecturers, mainly Dr Mark Morris, Dr Alice Clark (my internal assessor), Dr Julie Walton as well as lab technicians such as Clare Murcott. I consider them more than my former ‘teachers’ or ‘mentors’; they believed in me, saw me through my ups and ugly downs and were always there when I needed their support. We kept in touch on a weekly basis through lectures, labs, workshops, emails, SAMS appointments and even Microsoft Teams meetings. I feel like we went through SO much… together. Even though I am a graduate and part of the ‘’alumni’' now, we still keep in close touch, and I could not be more grateful for the relationship, respect and trust we built together.

I can confidently say that my course has benefitted me in many ways not only academically by enhancing my scientific/critical writing, presentation, research, interpersonal, organisational, time-management, critical analysis and teamwork skills (to name but a few), but also mentally, emotionally and psychologically by improving my confidence in myself, enabling me to tackle all the hurdles that were thrown my way (at least, most of the time haha) whilst living all alone in the accommodation halls of residence with thousands and thousands of miles away from my family. I feel that I can partake in social situations more easily now, start conversations and ask questions freely without feeling stupid or mortified (I have my moments, of course but the improvement is significant). These are skills essential for any job roles but especially for someone seeking jobs in scientific/research fields.

I would say take full advantage of every single opportunity you are given. You have certainly paid quite a lot for it! Do not be afraid, intimidated or embarrassed in asking questions. If there is one thing I have learnt, it is that there is NEVER a stupid question! Just ask way; the University's staff are ALL there for YOU, to help you learn and be the best version of yourself. Work hard. Despite all the support there is available to you, NO ONE will do the work for you. Help yourself so they can help you!!! Do not be afraid to go deep. Go further, push above and beyond; there is so much to see and learn beneath the surface. You are capable of SO much. Lastly, as stressful as it is, enjoy the process. Absorb every moment. Cherish the good times and learn from the bad and challenging ones.