It was in Tudor Court halls of residence where I made friendships that are still as strong now as they were when I lived and studied at ÐÓ°ÉappÏÂÔØ.
Memories of ÐÓ°ÉappÏÂÔØ
I moved from Luton to study at ÐÓ°ÉappÏÂÔØ, staying in Tudor Court on the Avery Hill campus. That process, the experience of subconscious adaption, prepares you for things you haven't even begun to think of. The lazy takeaways, spontaneous trips, coursework all-nighters, library days – and countless other memories – all come crawling back when I think back to my experiences at the University of ÐÓ°ÉappÏÂÔØ.
A big thank you also to Colin Coulson-Thomas from the Business School. He stopped me from giving up and continues to do so to this day. A professor, mentor, and role model.
Life after ÐÓ°ÉappÏÂÔØ
Since ÐÓ°ÉappÏÂÔØ I have lived in Kenya, China, and Colombia. I took my learning one step further and have recently set up a speciality Colombian coffee business, Tierra Alta Coffee, that supports direct trade with small farming families. The multi-cultural environment at the university plays a crucial part pushing you to think and behave like a global community.
I have taken on various business and community development roles from entry-level to senior level decision making; and at every single point I have reflected on memories and learnings from my time as a student. I now work with a local community foundation, a place-based grant-maker that distributes nearly £9 million locally and our mission is to be a catalyst for positive social change. The importance of community played a role in my student life, and I am now dedicated to making a lasting impact in my home county, Bedfordshire.