Ollie is a third year Maths with Finance and Accounting student and was awarded an Annual Fund Performance Scholarship in recognition of his outstanding work and achievements. Ollie shares how this award helped support him through his final year at university.
My name is Ollie Barnes and I am a third-year Mathematical Sciences student at Queen Mary. I come from Stevenage and have been brought up in a typical working-class family.
I study Maths with finance and accounting at Queen Mary University and the course has been going well, I am now in my last year on track for a First. I chose to study at Queen Mary because of its Russell Group status and its location in London which is local to me. The university also has a strong Maths department and is also very inclusive.
Before receiving the funding, things were going well but paying for my train down to London every day was starting to become a burden. I think financial worries do weigh heavily on students. I'm lucky enough to live at home and commute in and I was starting to feel the weight so for those who live on campus or in London paying so much in rent I think it would be hard for them to afford to do everything they want.
When I got the email saying I had been given the funding I was extremely happy, I was proud of myself for my academic achievement and was glad my work had been recognised. It has made a big impact as the money received will help pay for my train tickets down to London for the rest of this semester.
Looking forward, my plans for the future are to hopefully join a graduate scheme and complete my accountancy exams eventually becoming a chartered accountant.
To those that have donated and allowed me to receive this award I would like to say thank you very much for your generosity in this challenging financial time for everyone and it has made a big impact for me.