Opening doors - students reflect on the value of their scholarships

Each year, the Faculty of Arts provides Alumni Scholarship Awards to undergraduate students to support essential living costs. For the 2024/2025 academic year, English students share how this scholarship has profoundly impacted their academic and personal journeys.

What brought you to the university?

Taliya Jefferson – first-year English student

“Growing up was difficult, constantly moving due to family issues. I lost contact with my dad at four, and my mum, who has not held a full-time job since before I was born, struggled with alcoholism. Financial insecurity was a constant presence in my life, and I became the first in my family to attend university.

“As an autistic individual with social anxiety, panic disorder, and depression, school was never easy. In primary school, I was the quiet girl who spent break times with teachers, plaiting grass, or reading alone. I struggled with mutism
for two years and felt lost throughout secondary school.

“Books became my refuge. I always found comfort in literature, writing stories, and excelling in English. My passion flourished in secondary school, where I found solace in analysing literary works. One English teacher, in particular, became my inspiration. She encouraged me to find my voice, and I even gave a mental health awareness assembly to my Sixth Form peers and applied to be Head Girl. Though I was slightly disappointed by my final A-Level results (AAB and an A in my Extended Project Qualification), I secured a place at Nottingham, my top-choice university, a dream come true.”

Jasmine Sellars – first-year English student

“I grew up in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, before moving to Corby, Northamptonshire. An only child, I was raised by my dad, a retired chef, and my mum, an occupational therapist who is currently unable to work. Financial struggles were always present, but my parents encouraged me to follow my passion.

“Reading was my lifelong love, influenced by my mum and both grandmothers. We all shared a deep appreciation for literature – so much so that I even inherited my favourite book from them, Wuthering Heights. The joy of analysing and uncovering meanings in texts was reinforced by my supportive English teachers, making English my favourite subject throughout school.”

Why did you choose Nottingham?

Taliya Jefferson

“The friendly and peaceful environment of Nottingham immediately felt like home – a feeling I had never known before. English saved me; it was always there through my struggles, offering me an outlet. The variety of English modules at Nottingham, from medieval literature to drama and linguistics, was exactly what I wanted. After my undergraduate degree, I plan to pursue a Masters and PhD, with the ultimate goal of becoming an academic.”

Jasmine Sellars

“Nottingham captured my heart on the open day – the buildings, the people, and the English course all felt right. I chose to study English Language and Literature instead of just English because I loved the combination during A-Levels. The modules are fascinating, and my dream is to become a teacher, inspiring students the way my teachers inspired me.”

Favourite module

Taliya Jefferson

“My first term at Nottingham has been incredible. Although my challenges persist, the support system is exceptional, and I’ve even made a friend! My favourite module is Beginnings of English, where I explore medieval society through literature. To deepen my knowledge, I also take a history module on the Middle Ages.
“I have stepped out of my comfort zone by attending Poetry, Book Club, and Classics societies – something I never imagined doing months ago. Recently, I received my first essay result: 72, a First! I am determined to continue excelling academically and personally, overcoming every challenge that comes my way.”

Jasmine Sellars

“I have really been enjoying the Studying Literature module. So far, we’ve studied Paradise Lost and Oroonoko, and I can’t wait for upcoming texts like Northanger Abbey, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Virginia Woolf’s Short Stories.”

How the scholarship has helped

Jasmine Sellars

“I found out I would be receiving the Alumni Scholarship Award in May 2024, and as I was right in the midst of my A-Levels, it was a huge sigh of relief. Me and my dad had always struggled financially since he retired and both he and my mum had health problems meaning they couldn’t work. This scholarship genuinely means so much to both me and my family – I was over the moon that day (even in my A-Level Tudors exam!).”

Taliya Jefferson

“I am grateful for the positive impact the scholarship has made for me. Instead of worrying about how to afford my food shopping (I am vegan, and vegan alternatives are not always cheap!) and my accommodation, I have been able to focus on my studies and treat myself along the way.

Also, you have helped me to move away from an abusive parent and find my strength and independence to begin the process of estrangement. Thank you deeply for this, and I hope that one day I will be in a position to pass this goodness on to other young people like me.”

English and Philosophy first-year student

“Despite having a disability that seems rather intent on making my course difficult, I’ve still had a lot of fun so far! My two favourite modules currently are English Language and Metaphysics, since they’re a lot more science-y than you’d expect from the arts. In Language, I was able to take part in some experiments run by PhD students, in which they connected me to some monitors and watched how my eyes and facial muscles responded to different kinds of language. Outside of my subject, I’ve been taking part in a lot of arts and crafts with my flatmate. We discovered that carving pumpkins is another thing at which my hands unfortunately do not excel!

“My university experience so far has been wonderful. And while the universities themselves are largely to thank for that, the scholarship is too. Having an extra bit of funding takes the burden off trying to find a job that can accommodate me and has helped fund some nice add-ons for my laptop. Thank you for the kindness and for allowing me to partake in many more craft nights!”