Course: Forensic Chemistry
Level: Third year
Hometown: Aldershot
Other information: I came to Kingston University after taking a gap year during which I was employed. I am on the Compact scheme. I am a member of the Wine society. I am a Kingston University student ambassador.
I chose Kingston because... of the course. I couldn't find Forensic Chemistry anywhere else at the time. I loved that Kingston wasn't too far from home and if I wanted could commute. I love the size of Kingston, it has everything you need but isn't too big. It's so close to the city centre too. It has everything from history to the beautiful river and the crown court.
I have got to where I am now... because I knew I needed to be here for the career I wanted. I never thought I could get here and wasn't even going to try, but during my gap year I worked with some amazing teachers who inspired me and told me I could do it. If I hadn't had that support I wouldn't have aimed higher and sorted out the career I wanted – all because I thought I wasn't University material.
My plans for the future are... at this moment in time, I'm not really sure! That doesn't really sound good does it? But before I came to uni I felt like I didn't have options. I wanted to teach and I thought I could do it. You don't have to be the most intelligent person to be an amazing teacher. It takes a lot more than just knowing the stuff. I knew I was never going to be the next top scientist or anything really academic but coming to uni has opened many many doors. I still want to teach but I'm looking at a postgraduate degree in Forensic Document Analysis first.
Unleash your potential!
Posted 22 May 2012 by Hollie
Recently I have been reminded of the struggles I had with myself and with my friends over coming to ...
An organised Hollie leads to a relaxed Hollie!
Posted 16 May 2012 by Hollie
This has definitely been a whirlwind few weeks! Everyone's lives seem to be on full speed at the mom...
The perils of a student life crisis
Posted 2 Apr 2012 by Hollie
Well I haven't sat down a written a blog for what feels like ages, I haven't really done much of wha...
Professor Robert Winston. Even though he's a biologist and I'm not a fan, his enthusiasm and passion for science can hypnotise anyone. He works hard to bring science to the new generations. His curiosity is infectious.
My main interests are photography and films. I love David Mitchell the comedian and a fan of old sketch shows. I have an overly normal love of Eastenders. When I'm meant to be studying I seem to think watching geeky science and law programmes will help me learn. I also watch every monarchy programme I can possibly find. I'm a Villa fan and I'm scared of seaweed.
Getting back into the learning environment, I had really missed it in my gap year. I was very looking forward to meeting new people who I hoped were very different from me but had the same interests.
"I really enjoyed having interviews for some of the courses I chose. I waited for the post and once I had an interview I could relax.Once I knew I had an interview it was up to me if I got the place. I had the opportunity to sell myself, in a way that you can't on paper. I just thought that if I didn't get a place, I had done my best and it wasn't meant to be."
"I think being too serious makes an application seem impersonal. You may be overlooked for a person who seems more passionate."
"I never thought higher education was for me, I never knew a vast amount of careers. It was "you're quite clever at school, go to university". I thought university would better my life in the future and the only academic career I really knew I would like was teaching; so that was my plan – I will go to uni so I can teach, full stop! Now I'm here, I know it was for me. I've expanded my view of the world. Where I came from means nothing now, there are so many places I can go."
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