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.
Sewing machines and Scientists.
Posted 5 Jul 2012 by Hollie
So I've sat staring at my laptop screen all day today, filling in application forms taking little te...
Festivals, Spain, camping and more
Posted 26 Jun 2012 by Hollie
I'm sorry to do this and I have restrained myself for a few weeks but I can't keep it in any longer....
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 ...
My most typical uni day, which is constant each week, is a Friday. I have a two-hour lecture for my first module at nine. Then it's straight to a two-hour workshop in my other module. Then an hour for lunch, then it's a two-hour practical. Not all my days are that busy but most of my other days change from week to week.
I think it is to not stretch yourself too far with everything. In the beginning that seems like the best option – to do everything – but then you're not getting the best out of anything. It's good to experience and dip your toes in new water, but when you're trying to keep a part of you in everything you start to lose the deeper stuff. Make new friends but make sure that making 200 party buddies doesn't make you miss out on making them 5 – 6 solid friendships that you'll have for life.
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.
"I think being too serious makes an application seem impersonal. You may be overlooked for a person who seems more passionate."
"My only tip is to be honest. I was honest about where I wanted to go in life – my goals, what I liked, what I didn't, what I was good at and what I was scared of."
"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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