Health, Sport and Bioscience Graduate Profiles
Stojanka - BSc Extended Degree
After doing a one week work placement at Whipps Cross Hospital in 2008, I experienced a personal renaissance and realized that my purpose was to be a physiotherapist.
I applied to various universities who all turned me down flat, as I did not have the conventional background and qualifications. I was heartbroken and my new found dreams stopped dead in their tracks. However, the University of East London despite rejecting my initial application, called me in to discuss other ways of how I could get to where I wanted. Their warmth, consideration and support, even before I was a student was overwhelming. They advised me of the one year Extended Degree in Science, which would provide me with the necessary qualifications to pursue a BSc in Physiotherapy. I was so relieved and grateful that there was someone who cared about my aspirations and gave me the time and guidance that I needed to achieve it. I enrolled for the course and haven’t looked back since.
The course is tailor made for students from atypical backgrounds that need the extra support to get to the next stage. Like so many, I lacked a great deal of confidence in my skills initially but with help from my tutors I went from the bottom of the class, to the top! I only achieved this because the lecturers’ encouragement knew no bounds. It moves me whenever I think of everything they have done for me. The students too help each other; we all feel like we are in the same boat and there’s a real sense of camaraderie amongst us that motivates us to do better, but not through rivalry but instead a generosity of spirit.
I can’t believe that in one year how my fortunes have changed; just 12 months ago I was looking at agonizing rejection letters one after the other and now I have my pick of places to study and I really feel I’m on my way to conquering my dream.
