Meet Alastair - one of our Uni Connect students
This month we meet Alastair Ewen, a Year 13 Uni Connect student at East Sussex College Lewes to discover what the support he has received from the Uni Connect programme has meant to him…
Can you tell us a bit about the courses you’re studying and where you’re hoping they’ll take you in the future Alastair?
I’m studying Biology, Chemistry and Sociology and am hoping to study Medicine at University next year. Long-term I’d love to use my medical experience to become a Forensic Pathologist. It’s been a dream of mine ever since I started watching crime dramas and became hooked on how science can help solve complex crimes.
What do you most enjoy about college life?
I’ve always enjoyed science so having the chance to immerse myself in that world has been great. I also really like the more independent approach to learning here and the opportunities you get to mix with so many different kinds of people.
What have you found most challenging?
When I was 14 I discovered I had leukaemia and I’ve been undergoing treatment ever since. Juggling homework, university open days, UCAS deadlines and work experience with medical appointments has been a constant challenge.
How do you negotiate that very tough challenge in your day-to-day college life?
By staying positive! I see education as an aspect of my life that I can control. Working hard to get into university to study Medicine helps me power through and gives me something to aim for.
How has being part of the Uni Connect programme supported you to achieve your goals?
My treatment appointments often clashed with college advice days around university applications, which was frustrating as I wasn’t sure whether to pursue Law or Medicine to achieve my ultimate goal of being a Forensic Pathologist. Neither of my parents had been to university so getting to grips with the UCAS system was also challenging when I was missing so much of the help our college provides.
That’s where Sarah came in. She’s part of the Uni Connect team here and went out of her way to get to know me and help me discover the path that was right for me.
What practical support did Sarah provide you with?
She asked lots of questions so that she could get to know what was important to me and where my strengths lay. That helped me see what an important part of my life science was and how much I’d miss it if I didn’t study it at university. That revelation helped set me on course to apply for Medicine.
Sarah also helped me through each step of the application process, which was so helpful as no-one in my family had been through the system before.
What advice would you give to anyone else offered Uni Connect support?
Take it! It sounds so corny but it’s honestly helped me so much.
What most excites you about the future?
I’ve always been fascinated by everything going on around me when I go into hospital – it’s been like mini work experience. So I’m excited about seeing the medical world from the other side.
I also enjoy helping other people so I’m looking forward to doing that and to being able to give back to the medical world. I’m hoping that the challenges I’ve faced, and knowing what my family has been through, will make me more empathetic and able to support people in a way that makes a real difference.
To find out more about how the Uni Connect Go Further team at the East Sussex College Group support young people to explore higher education options click here.