BA Geography, University of Cambridge
Public Speaker, Writer, Coach
I grew up in East London and was the second person from my school to study at Cambridge University; the first came to Cambridge to study Geography too! Alongside my degree, I was heavily involved with a wide variety of access and outreach work. I went to a state school that did not send a lot of people to Oxbridge, they had only ever sent one person to Cambridge before me.
For as long as I can remember I’ve been a self-starter and have always used my initiative. In school I started doing my research to find free programmes that helped state school students into university. When I was in school there were different charities that helped me through my university application: the Social Mobility Foundation, Target Oxbridge, Into University and the Sutton Trust. I went on a Sutton Trust summer school studying Geography at Cambridge as well and completed the Insight Into Bristol programme for Geography when I was in year 12, which is why I ended up applying to Bristol and Cambridge. The Social Mobility Foundation gave me advice on how to apply to Cambridge and introduced me to current Cambridge students from less advantaged backgrounds, including a mentor who studied Economics at Cambridge. Due to my proactivity, I was lucky to have a lot of exposure to people who went to Cambridge, who all encouraged me to apply. Through Into University I applied for a mentor and was paired with a Geography Graduate of St John’s College. I was also fortunate to meet another Cambridge Geography Graduate through a work experience programme I applied to with the charity Career Ready when I was in year 12. These mentors helped me with my personal statement and later my interview, all for free. The experiences I had on these programmes drew me to geography as I was exposed to how interesting and multi-faceted the discipline is.
There’s a great quote from Marian Wright Edelman, the African-American activist and writer, who says: “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Seeing people from a similar background to you, whether that be geographically, culturally, or in any other way, makes you feel much more comfortable and able to achieve more. This is why I am passionate about also helping others from a similar background to myself, those who do not readily have access to a network of people who can support them with applying to university. Over the last three years, I mentored six students through their UCAS applications for Geography, four of whom have received offers from Cambridge. In 2019, I was invited to speak at the Year 12 Going Places with Geography conference hosted by the Royal Geographical Society and also featured on the Royal Geographical Society’s Ask the Geographer podcast where I spoke about my experience of applying to university, and how growing up in inner-city London has informed my interests in music and cultural hybridity as well as finding remedies to educational inequality.
During university, I planned my College’s first Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Access Day (with St Catharine’s College) for state school students. This was initially supposed to be an in person event but due to the Covid-19 pandemic an alternative virtual event was organised and hosted, which for me highlighted the power of social media in students staying connected, fostering relationships, and building a community online. Since graduating in 2021, I am a Public Speaker, Coach and Writer sharing my experiences with hundreds of people. When I visit schools and speak at access and outreach events for young people from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds I often say: definitely never let your background stop you. If you let your background stand in your way, you might not be able to achieve the things you really want and are passionate about and instead might settle for less – you deserve more and you can do more! Always tap into any good support networks available to you, whether that be teachers, mentors, friends or family members who believe in you and are advocates for your success.
Watch an interview with Victoria about her journey below, or scroll down for more links!