“As a mature student, it was very daunting to think of going back to studies after being away for some time. The York Graduate Research School (YGRS) scholarship gave me the boost of confidence that I needed to make the jump, and has provided me with an opportunity to pursue my dream of working with parasites of medical importance.

This scholarship is doing a really important job in filling a gap and providing an opportunity for people from the BAME community to have a chance at graduate studies. That’s another reason why I applied –  I thought if I put myself out there, hopefully somebody else will be able to see me and think, ‘okay, I can do that too’.

For anyone interested in applying, I’d tell them not to be scared. I wish I hadn’t been too shy to apply before. I’d tell people to keep going and don’t be afraid to try. Don’t be afraid to dream.”