"I never thought I'd write about marriage as my dissertation topic. But I was able to delve into my own culture and identity and understood the power that came from it. This confidence came from my tutor who recognised what made me unique and encouraged me to lean into it. Rather than following the typical academic path, I was co-creating my academic experience and that made all the difference.
Beyond education, Queen Mary was about community. I joined Every Nation, a society where I could explore different faiths while coming from a Muslim background. Everyone was very welcoming and made me feel part of something bigger. And as a football team captain, I wasn’t the best player but I knew my organisational skills could bring value, and in turn, the team became stronger.
The Careers and Enterprise team helped me understand what I truly valued in a workplace – things I hadn’t considered before, like feeling comfortable and being able to express myself. They gave me the confidence to choose a path aligned with my long-term goals rather than simply following what I thought I should do.
Queen Mary understands there is a real strength in difference. It allows you to explore your interests and discover who you are, facilitated by a world-class education.
University is a collaborative as it is a personal experience. It prepares you for the real world, where you’ll work with people from all backgrounds. I stepped into spaces outside my comfort zone simply because I wanted to learn from diverse perspectives.
Take the time to discover yourself, but know that every person you meet will also reveal a little bit more about who you are. By the end of it, all those pieces come together – and that’s where the real growth happens.”