Ashni received an Annual Fund Performance Scholarship in recognition of her hard work and outstanding exam results. Ashni has just graduated from Queen Mary University of London with a degree in English Language and Linguistics.
My name is Ashni, and I’ve just completed my undergraduate degree in English Language and Linguistics. I thoroughly enjoyed my course and particularly valued the close-knit community of students and staff within our school, which allowed me to establish great relationships with my peers and lecturers and feel tremendously supported throughout my entire university experience.
It was the rich history of Queen Mary that particularly appealed to me. The idea of providing hope and opportunity to underprivileged communities from various backgrounds meant that the university had a heartfelt and compassionate purpose, which aligned with my personal morals and meant I could really be proud of where I studied. The diversity of staff and students at Queen Mary was another incentive for choosing to study here. This was especially important given my decision to study linguistics because the diversity creates a multilingual society at our university, which gave me insight into people’s experiences with different languages, cultures and perspectives.
I have been given so many amazing opportunities during my time at Queen Mary, including a 4-week Cambridge Long Vacation Scholarship, which I was fortunate enough to be recommended for. Each School in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences was asked to select two of the highest achieving candidates, which the Dean puts forward to the University of Cambridge. I was therefore very thankful to have been chosen for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The programme allowed me to utilise the university’s variety of extraordinary facilities; network with lecturers, who provided me with invaluable feedback on my dissertation proposals ahead of my final year; and augment my network of like-minded, educationally driven, and inspiring students.
I was actually in Cambridge when I was informed about receiving the Annual Fund Performance Scholarship and I was shortly after selected for the Principal’s Prize, so during this time, it felt as though all the hard work and countless hours I had invested into my studies was finally paying off. I come from a religious Hindu family and within Hinduism, good deeds and acts of selfless service are held in high regard. This compelled me to contribute some of my awarded funds to support my temple, where we provide home-cooked meals for the homeless. This was my way of giving back and expressing gratitude for all the awards and achievements I had attained at Queen Mary.
By extension of the Hindu emphasis on helping others, combined with my interest for the scientific side of speech and language, I decided to work towards becoming a Speech and Language Therapist. I am now preparing for the 2-year MSc Speech and Language Therapy at City University in September 2024.
Many students worry about their finances, especially those that live away from home and have to juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet. Performance scholarships, awards, and prizes can therefore go a long way in supporting students at university. I have friends who commendably work alongside their studies and still achieve highly, but unfortunately others have had to do this at the cost of their grades. I’m extremely grateful that I haven't had to work, as it has allowed me to focus solely on my studies, but I feel for those who have had to endure the combined stress of working, paying for rent and food, and the pressure to succeed academically.
Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to fund this wonderful performance scholarship. These awards are sincerely appreciated and have the power to make a massive difference to students' lives. For me, this award has greatly fueled my motivation to embark on my postgraduate journey with confidence. Thank you for supporting students like me in this very generous way.