The Student Success Endowment: Nancy

I am currently in my first year studying BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance. I have always had an interest in all things mathematical and for as long as I could remember this has been my strongest subject. I decided to study Accounting and Finance because it applies mathematical principles to real life situations. I opted to take the sandwich version of my course with a placement included to further enhance my learning. I am confident that this will provide me with valuable insight and a greater understanding of my chosen career. The opportunity to gain practical experience is very beneficial as it prepares me for the working world and helps me develop necessary skills.

A bit about myself. I am an only child, raised by my hardworking single mother.  Her resilience and dedication have always inspired me to achieve success and never give up. I recognise the financial strain that higher education can place on families and was excited to receive Opportunity Bursary in order to reduce the pressures on my mum as I don’t want her to worry too much about expenses.

Receiving support from the Student Success Endowment has been a transformative experience for me both academically and personally. For the academic side, I plan to save most of the bursary so that it can help me finance my yearlong study for work placement. The money will help me cover essential expenses such as travel costs, accommodation, and professional attire so that I can take full advantage of this experience without stressing over my finances. I have also used the bursary money to buy school supplies and textbooks for my modules.

I have not explored placement opportunities extensively yet however I was recommended by a family member working in accounting to look into the Big 4 firms. I am looking forward to gaining hands on experience and seeking guidance from experts and professionals in accounting because I really see myself enjoying the job and learning a lot of valuable skills from them. I hope to improve my analytical and problem-solving skills as well as building up my confidence while working with financial data.

On the personal aspect, I have used some of the money from the SSE to buy essentials such as groceries and toiletries. I prioritize on items that I need desperately so that I do not take advantage of the money that I have been provided with on random luxuries.

I am extremely grateful to the university for supporting me and I intend to make the most of this financial support. It has allowed me to focus on my studies and cover essential expenses which are very important in student life.