I chose to study at Loughborough University because it was ranked highly for History and provided a good variety of modules. It was interesting to see that I could do more than European and Russian history at university.
I chose to study at Loughborough University because it was ranked highly for History and provided a good variety of modules. It was interesting to see that I could do more than European and Russian history at university.
The added benefit was that Loughborough is connected to two major cities, Nottingham and Leicester. Being from London, it made the move much more familiar and comfortable.
Throughout my time at Loughborough, I have been able to get involved in recreational sports such as badminton and netball. Although you have the option to join one of the sports teams, it was nice to just meet new people whilst playing the sports I love for fun.
During my final year, I took part in our charity organisation LSU ACTION and was involved in multiple local community events.
I’ve had so much fun learning over the past few years. One of my favourite topics was the module African States and Nations led by Dr Poppy Cullen. It was a real deep dive into the history of Africa beyond the typical colonial or Transatlantic slave trade perspectives generally offered at secondary school. It really challenged a lot of people – and the coursework was super engaging. I learnt so much.
The teaching at Loughborough is varied. Overall, the quality is very high and the support on offer is immense. I admit, I had my favourite tutor who I always looked forward to meeting during the week.
The topic I chose for my dissertation had nothing to do with anything I studied. I decided to focus on how British TV programming in the 1980s dealt with the issue of authentically representing Black British culture and the challenges that came with it.
I focused on Channel 4 and its Black-targeted programme Black on Black, exploring the thinking and key decisions the programmers made to connect to Black British audiences. I chose this theme because I have always been interested in identity and representation.
During my placement year in industry, I read a lot of books about Black British people and wanted to add to the growing academic conversation in this area.
For my placement, I worked as an intern at Enterprise Mobility which looks after rental companies such as National, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Alamo. My focus was Government and Public Affairs and most of my work centred around Enterprise Rent-A-Car. I had a great time learning more about the relationship between national and local governments and organisations.
A unique part of my experience is that I got to participate in their national intern competition, working on my presentation skills and developing a business improvement idea. I managed to secure second place in the finals – and won £2,500!
University, no matter where you go, is a stressful but exciting time. Loughborough has such a large student community that you are almost guaranteed to find people for you. I’ve learnt that it’s always best to put yourself out there and make the most of your experience.
I think a lot of the skills that I have developed over the past four years – such as presentation, analytical and research skills – will come in handy for any role. My degree has provided me with a good basis to work with, and my successful placement has shown that I can put these skills into practice.