I grew up in Kennington it was just me and my nan I was born in Saudi Arabia I was raised there for the first ten years of my life I grew up in Hackney with my mom and my brother I was aware of the financial burden placed on my mom being a single parent I had to grow up quite quickly it wasn't easiest of upbringing I never thought of myself as someone who is particularly academic which is why I feel like I had to work a lot harder than most of my peers I came from a background that was considered disadvantaged but I don't let that define me I knew I wanted to go to university but I didn't think I could there are plenty of factors that make it difficult or even unappealing for people who are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to gain access to higher education into university helps bridge that gap as well as helping children and young adults become more engaged with higher education into university has helped me at every stage from primary school to now secondary and a levels I had the opportunity of work experience focused weeks on careers trips to universities after getting involved with the scheme I was introduced to my corporate mentor made my application to university seems far less daunting they use their resources to make sure we have the opportunities you wouldn't otherwise have they provided me with to pull through the first year of my university degree and then they offered me the chance to be a mentor myself they are inspiring people but also encourage others to be inspirational encourage others to raise the aspirations I'd like to go on to help people in communities all over the world into University is an investment in the future in the type of society we all want which is inclusive and representative of all kinds of people so that's my story open to a world of opportunities ready to embrace a bright new future [Music] you [Music]