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My name is Emily and I am halfway through my Veterinary Science degree at the University of Surrey. I am so grateful to be where I am now and I know that I have developed the skills and perseverance to face any challenges that come my way.
I came to KES on a bursary between 2013-2020, which was brilliant for me. I ended up studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths at A Level, which set me up perfectly for my degree. I was also involved in lots of co-curricular activities like the Charities Commission, Tap Dance and Street Dance, which I loved being part of. I made friends for life at KES and, to this day, we still meet up as much as our now busy lives allow.
I know that many alumni and supporters donate to fund bursaries like mine – so I’d like to say thank you. There is a huge amount of untapped potential amongst young people in Southampton, and KES is a place where that can be cultivated. I grew up fairly close to the School but would never have been able to attend if it wasn’t for a bursary. KES has been a huge part in shaping the person I am today and my path could have looked very different otherwise.
One of the best things about KES was that everyone is treated as an individual – there’s no one size fits all approach. I developed great working relationships with teachers, who helped me to grow in my knowledge and confidence to face challenges. I’ve taken this into my Veterinary degree, where the strong communication skills I developed at KES have been crucial, as on a day-to-day basis I meet so many people with different needs.
Aged 11, it is so hard to know which is the right school for you. With the benefit of hindsight, I’m so glad my parents took the opportunity for me to attend KES. I’d encourage any parents/guardians of a young person with a passion for learning and co-curricular activities to apply for a bursary. My interests were science and dance, and KES helped nurture and develop those, but yours might be different. That’s one of the best things about KES – there is such a wide variety of opportunities and a place for you whatever your interests are. If even a small part of you thinks you can do this (and I hope you know that you ARE capable), KES can be the place to help you grow.
I could talk about my personal experience of KES for pages and pages but walking around the School recently and looking at some of its history on show, I had the sense that every pupil including myself is part of something really special. I’m so glad to have studied at KES for seven years and to know that those memories will stretch on far longer.
