Sameeha is a Geography and Business Management student at Queen Mary. She grew up in East London.
Sameeha Goni, Annual Fund Scholarship recipient 2018
"I grew up in Tower Hamlets where I attended a state school. Both of my parents didn’t go to university, my mum is a homemaker and my dad is the sole breadwinner for the family. I have a lot of responsibility at home, I try my best to help my parents look after my younger siblings as my brother has a mental illness and my sister suffers from a brain tumour. It has been tough at home but my parents have always supported me and this has motivated me to work hard.
"I always knew I wanted to study at Queen Mary because it’s the only university to offer the course I am interested in, so, I was overjoyed when I was given an unconditional offer to study here. My favourite part of my degree so far has been taking part in group tutorials because it allows us to have focused discussions about the topic we are studying.
"I work part-time tutoring GCSE students to help pay for my commute to and from university. I didn’t want to take out a maintenance loan at the start of the academic year because I was scared of the mounting debt I’d be in after graduating. I was very happy to find out that I’d been awarded an Annual Fund Scholarship. The award has taken pressure off both at home and my studies; it’s assured me that all my hard work has paid off. The funding has enabled me to pay for my monthly travel pass and my course textbooks.
"I think students, particularly those who live on campus and from the local area, are faced with financial worries. We have to think about spending on travel, course resources, food, rent etc. Finances, for students, are unavoidable and always at the back of our mind.
"I’m hoping to make the most of my time in university by taking part in voluntary programmes, employability schemes and mentoring prospective students. After I graduate I hope to get a job as a civil servant and work in the public sector.
"I’m very grateful for all the alumni who made this award possible. Thank you for supporting students and recognising that we do face financial barriers. You’ve made a huge difference to my university experience and inspired me to make the most of any opportunities that come my way."