Finding the perfect fit – a journey to architectural engineering
Alumni Scholarship recipient shares their path to university and aspirations for the future
For this first-year student in Architectural Environment Engineering at the University of Nottingham, the journey to higher education has been shaped by resilience and a passion for creativity and problem-solving.
With the support of the Alumni Scholarship, they’re making the most of university life, balancing studies with new experiences and embracing every challenge along the way.
What brought you to the university?
“I was born in Latvia, a beautiful country covered in enchanted forests and cosy lake cabins but also plagued with a poor economy. I moved to Norfolk with my mother and grandmother at the age of three; we fell in love with the boundless coastline and as such have lived there ever since. I come from a large family with three younger siblings, 11 aunts and uncles and nearly 40 cousins (so family events are always spirited!). I am the second in my entire family to go to university, so I feel a lot of pressure to act as a positive role model for the younger folk, like the way my mother has always been a source of inspiration for me. She single-handedly has provided for me my entire life despite all the hardships that came our way, and for that I will forever be grateful and will eternally embody her strength and determination.
“I can only look back on my education positively. For my A-levels, my chosen subjects were mathematics, art and psychology. I felt like this was the perfect combination for me, as I have always loved the creativity of art and the methodical predictability of maths. With psychology, I wanted to push myself as essay writing isn't my strongest suit and I wanted to become a more rounded student, as I could foresee it coming in handy in the future.”
Built Environment Centre for 3D Design, University Park Campus
Why Nottingham?
“Although I had received offers from various universities for architecture, I decided to go through Clearing on results day. And just like that, boom! I discovered the course at Nottingham, a perfect blend of mathematics, architecture, and a touch of environmentalism – at a university I had already fallen in love with. It truly felt like fate!”
“My first term has been everything I imagined it would be. Currently, I am settling into a routine trying to find the balance between having enough time for studies, as well as making the most of my time here without short-circuiting my social battery. I attend art, badminton, nature and conservation, and allotment society regularly.
“The course itself is in the “Goldilocks area” of challenging, where there are some concepts that are hard but not impossible to conquer with enough brain power. My favourite module so far has to be Performance of Construction Materials, as we are currently learning how to design a bridge which we will be constructing ourselves (without any nails!) and testing against 800N of force.
How the scholarship has helped
“Having lived in the countryside my whole life, moving to Nottingham has been a rather momentous change in my life. I've taken every opportunity to try new experiences including (but not limited to) caving, hiking, horse riding, rock climbing and ice skating. This has allowed me to meet many people from many backgrounds and make connections with them through shared new experiences."
The scholarship has allowed me to flourish and settle in independently, letting me focus on my education and furthering myself as an individual without feeling like a burden to my family.
Architectural Environment Engineering first-year student
