East London Voices
The University of East London Community - one human story at a time.
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The University of East London Community - one human story at a time.
East London Voices
Explore the portraits below to read stories from within our community
Abdal Ahmed
University of East London alumniTonight I decided to make chai and watch the sun go down. From the balcony of my 9th floor tower block in East London, I can see the Shard gleaming in the distance.
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Abhishek Khanna
MSc Public HealthI chose to study at UEL primarily due to its location, ranking, and positive word-of-mouth from fellow students.
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Alexandra Deac
Clinical and Community PsychologyI've always had a tremendous connection to those who have suffered, and I've been encouraged by their drive to change their situation.
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Allison Vitalis
University of East London staffAllison was the fourth born out of her five siblings and was brought up in Hackney, East London. She was an accountant for 14 years before starting her real passion - working with vulnerable people.
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Amy Holder
University of East London studentI started gymnastics around the age of 10. But I didn't get good at it or focused on athletics properly until I was 17 and studying my undergrad. That's when I put all my efforts into it.
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Andre Lockhart
London Lions memberAlthough I was born in London, I grew up on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean in Barbados. To move was a decision my mum made to give me opportunities I wouldn't have in England.
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Angel Obomese
UEL Accounting & Finance studentI decided to do Accounting and Finance because I wanted to be rich. I've always wanted to travel and meet new people and you need a lot of capital to do that.
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Anita Racheva
UEL Fashion Design studentThe day after submitting a project is always quite euphoric. Months of work coming together and then suddenly you find yourself so liberated.
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Barbara Ayozie
University of East London alumniI am a visionary and an activist, and I work within the creative industry as an art director. My parents are Nigerian, and a lot of my work is inspired by tribalism.
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Barke Faraj
Clinical and Community Psychology alumniMy story isn’t an easy one to tell. However, I know that through sharing my story, I can help people like me who have gone through similar experiences.
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Colin Haye
UEL Business Management alumniWhile I was born in the UK, a significant portion of my formative years was spent in Jamaica. Some of my favourite memories of Jamaica include the vibrant culture, the warmth of the people, and of course, the endless days of sunshine.
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Daisha Lewis
BA (Hons) Media and CommunicationsI decided I needed a new career and I applied to UEL through Clearing in 2020. Initially I thought I would do social sciences, but I did a project on music and realised how interconnected social sciences is with media.
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David Konya
University of East London AlumniI’m originally from a small city in Slovakia and I used to visit my auntie who lived in London. Eventually, my mother and I took the opportunity to come live in London. It wasn’t an easy journey.
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Deshant Chopra
Information Security and Computer Forensics MScDuring my last semester at UEL, my dissertation project opened doors for me in unexpected ways. I collaborated with a company back in India, published my papers, and secured my degree as well as full-time employment upon graduation.
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Ella McKenzie
University of East London StaffEach year the world goes through a cycle of regeneration, shedding its frosty past and shrugging on fresh blossoms. It appears effortless.
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Fai Qad
University of East London alumniI don't come from a family with fancy degrees. Both my parents passed away when I was a teen, and without a university background, my learning journey hasn’t been a walk in the park.
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Heaven Bowman
University of East London alumniI decided to continue my education in London to further my volleyball career and pursue a master's degree in strength and conditioning. It was a big step for me, leaving my comfort zone and embarking on a new journey.
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Helena El Khalil
University of East London alumniGrowing up, both my parents were pharmacists and at the age of five, I started accompanying my father at his pharmacy. Witnessing the workings of the pharmacy at such a young age sparked my interest in the field.
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Holly Nicoll
University of East London alumniDespite my doubts about balancing motherhood and university, I decided to take the plunge and enrol in UEL's part-time graduate course which has helped tremendously.
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Hugues Mfumu
Graphic Design and IllustrationAs a Black creative, one of the most important aspects of my work is to highlight inequalities faced by minority and oppressed groups and to encourage open and honest conversations.
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Hrushikesh Gupte
Financial ManagementI wanted an international experience to broaden my understanding of global financial systems, and London felt like the perfect place.
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Ian Felton
Trinity Art Gallery artistPainting transports me to a different world. As the business owner for Trinity Arts Studios, having to run two galleries and art studios, life can get quite full on.
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Jacob Cliff
University of East London alumniI’d always thought university was the next step, but after my results, I lost confidence and kind of gave up on the idea.
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Jacqueline Malcolm
MA Theatre DirectingMy biggest piece of advice to UEL students is to not lose sight of who you are. It doesn't matter what job you're doing because your path is going to take you down so many different roads.
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Jacqui Bashford
University of East London alumniIt was my mother who sparked my love for learning, pushing me to excel academically. Even when I struggled with reading and writing, she never let me give up.
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Janet Sutton
University of East London alumniI was born in Kenya and moved to Parma, Italy at the age of 9. I began my career in HR with a background in psychology. During my free time, I worked in a charity to help feed the elderly.
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Jasdeep Suri
University of East London alumniLife is unpredictable, and it’s crucial to live fully, never taking our loved ones for granted.
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Jason Forrest
University of East London alumniMy adoration for fashion dates to my grandmother who was a dressmaker from the Caribbean. One of my first pieces that I designed was a mandarin-coloured jacket.
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John Strawson
University of East London staffI have taught at the university for 45 years. From the start we wanted to build a law school that would be inclusive, and we made special efforts to recruit women and ethnic minority students - which was unusual in 1975.
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Joseph Carpenter
Sports Coaching and PerformanceEast London is a vibrant and multicultural place. Growing up surrounded by diversity has been a fantastic experience, and it's helped shape my perspective, especially in coaching.
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Khadijah Noor
Biomedical ScienceI'm the first woman in my family to pursue education in a foreign country. My mum played a significant role in making it possible for me to study abroad, and she's my biggest supporter.
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Lauren Sullivan-McDaid
NursingI would frequently volunteer to help in the local community, specifically children with disabilities. I wanted to find a career where I would feel like I was making a difference in the world.
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Liselle Terret
University of East London staffI host a cabaret show at Soho Theatre with learning disabled and neurodivergent actors on disability hate crime. I also identify as neurodivergent.
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Lurraine Jones
University of East London staffAlong my journey of growing up as a mixed heritage female Londoner I have felt included and excluded because of my skin tone. I have been asked too many times - 'what are you'?
The answer is: I am a Londoner through and through!
Maria
Adult NursingWhen I was about 18 years old, I left my home country and came to the UK in search of myself. I felt that Barcelona, the place where I grew up, was becoming too small for me.
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Maria Castano
MSc Integrative Counselling and CoachingBorn in Colombia, I made the move to England at the age of 9, a decision tinged with uncertainty as I joined my mother and brother, unsure at the time as to whether this would be a short-term or long-term chapter of my life.
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Maria Narbuntaite
General LLMI decided to pursue an LLM to continue my fight for justice, not only as an activist but also through legal means. My interest is particularly focused on international law and the perpetuation of discrimination.
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Mervyn Vumuka
Chemistry BSc (Hons)It was through this experience with asthma that I became curious in how the human body functions and how medications work. There are so many untreatable diseases in the world and a need for more scientist to find the relevant cures.
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Mia Cunningham
University of East London alumniI have never experienced that kind of euphoria. People were clapping and jumping up and down. It was a unique feeling.
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Michelle
University of East London alumniOne of my favourite parts of moving to London and studying at UEL is the diversity of the people I've met and hearing about their stories.
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Mohammed Zubair
Information Security and Digital ForensicsMoving from India to the UK was a significant cultural shift. Living in a multicultural environment in London taught me a lot, from enjoying local foods to engaging in a diverse learning community.
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Natasha
University of East London alumniI didn't go to university straight after school for a variety of reasons but within the last five years, I had been thinking about going back.
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Nicole Bacchus
University of East London alumniMy transition back into university felt like a return to my roots and takes me back to when I first thought of pursing social work after university.
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Nitin Saini
MBA Master of Business AdministrationMy father encouraged me to study abroad to experience different cultures and business environments, which ultimately broadened my perspective.
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Nosheen Hussain
Sports and Exercise ScienceSport excites me. I see it as my opportunity to be the best and I also feel most myself. I find with sports I always pick it up really easily.
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Olufemi Adeyemi
University of East London alumniWe must be careful how we live our lives because most of us just go through our lives mindlessly working without taking a break and consequently our mental health suffers.
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Oskar Buler
University of East London alumniAdjusting to university life has been interesting. I love the independence that we’re given as students, and it’s been amazing to focus my education on modules that I’m passionate about and that directly align with my career.
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Ovie Soko
Professional basketball playerProbably the most valuable lesson I've learnt from sport is just how to navigate in life. How to deal with people. I've learnt so many people skills playing sport.
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Pariss Sailsman
BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal JusticeI was lucky that this degree wasn't just academic; it was practical. After graduating I could work in so many different fields and I tried them all.
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Phoebe-Jo
University of East London alumniPainting the walkway at the entrance of Docklands campus was one of the most rewarding and challenging artistic endeavours I've ever pursued.
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Rahul Ahmad
MA Multimedia (Production, Culture, Theories)My father, a retired Indian diplomat, was posted there, and I had spent four years in London during my school days. Additionally, my brother had already attended UEL, making it a natural choice for me.
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Regina Everitt
UEL Director of Library, Archives, and Learning ServicesModern libraries are about more than 'stamping books.' More importantly, libraries are about enabling access to knowledge and information that can dare a child to dream and maybe change the world.
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Robin Lockhart
Director of Development at Catalyst in CommunitiesIt gives me hope to see how these young people want to change the world. This is the generation that will be able to make these changes.
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Roshan Nageena
University of East London alumniOne of my favourite aspects of UEL was our numerous group projects which brought together students from all corners of the globe, fostering a rich tapestry of ideas and creativity.
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Ryan Murray
BA AdvertisingI went to an exhibition about advertising in the 80s and 90s and I was intrigued. I never realised how much thinking went behind each decision. I searched for advertising degrees, and this is how I ended up at UEL.
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Saurabh Malik
University of East London alumniUEL played a pivotal role in shaping my career, providing me with specialised knowledge and technical skills necessary for the finance industry.
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Sazhal Salam
University of East London alumniBefore heading to London, I was already deeply involved in my family business, but I felt that something was missing.
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Senthil Murugasan
MA PhotographyLife took an unexpected turn when I had the opportunity to pursue a master's degree in photography in the UK.
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Shradha Wattal
University of East London alumniMy father's unwavering support and belief in the power of education were instrumental in my decision to pursue higher education abroad.
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Shreem Khare
Graphic DesignIt took me a while to adjust. Everything was different, the people, the language, the culture. I felt like I was in a parallel universe.
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Sian Earl
UEL's Lead Partnership OfficerRunning isn't a magic pill. It doesn't solve all the world's problems (if only) but it can help manage some of the feelings around them.
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Sian Trimble Davey
East London Sport Marketing and Communications ManagerI was smart, I just had to do things differently to my friends. I graduated from my writing-based degree with a high 2:1, and four years later I graduated from my masters with a 1st.
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Sonia Quintero
University of East London alumniWe live in a society obsessed with numbers and boxes. I know how painful it can be to tick the box, and to be outside of it. Personally, I don't see numbers, I see poets.
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Sriram Mahesh
University of East London alumniInitially, I faced communication difficulties due to my introverted nature and the new environment, but the collaborative and supportive atmosphere of my time at UEL helped me integrate and develop my skills.
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Sumayya Munim
Law LLB (Hons)It was through being uncomfortable that I was able to push myself to meet new people and take on new opportunities that have shaped both who I am today and my future goals.
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Susan Kaur
BEng Manufacturing Systems EngineeringUEL gave me exposure and confidence to think on various levels. The hands-on experience while studying allowed me to develop multiple skills, which in turn enabled me to think out of the box.
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Tanisha George
Accounting and FinanceTo students and graduates, I would say make the most of your time in university. Attend events, network, and participate in various activities.
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Terri Foreman
Drama, Applied Theatre and PerformanceThe biggest thing for me about lockdown is not being able to go to the theatre. I've booked a musical 'SIX' for December and I hope it goes ahead.
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Tien Cin Yong
PsychologyI find that physical health alone is not enough, and that's why I ventured into psychology. True wellness encompasses more than just the body.
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Tripti Someshwar
Special and Additional Learning Needs (ICEPE) MAInspired by my studies and driven by a desire to make a tangible difference, I founded Vision Board Projects—a multifaceted initiative aimed at empowering neurodivergent youth.
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Unai Zapiain
Fashion DesignIf I could do it again, I wouldn't change anything, as I think my year it's been the result of different positive and negative experiences.
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Vanshika Nakul
University of East London alumniComing to the UK finally allowed me to make friends from all over the world and enriched my knowledge about other cultures outside of my own.
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Varun Bhayana
BSc Sports DevelopmentThe multicultural environment at UEL allowed me to develop resilience, self-confidence, and expertise in my field, providing the groundwork for my current position as a consulting partner.
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Venkatesh Kumar
University of East London alumniThankfully, the move from Chennai to London wasn't as daunting as I thought it might be. Having friends who'd already made the leap helped ease the transition.
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Vineet K Lingala
MBA Strategic ManagementThroughout my career, I have successfully executed various projects for biopharmaceutical organisations across Europe, the US, and Emerging Markets.
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Wadi
University of East London alumniMy choice to study law goes back to my childhood. I've always been political, and I would always negotiate with my family members, questioning everything.
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