Holly embraces university and community life during her time at University Centre Shrewsbury

News from our partners University Centre Shrewsbury 

From fundraising to representing fellow students to winning awards, Holly-Elizabeth Smith has embraced university and community life to the full during the course of her degree.

Holly

The undergraduate History student credits the encouragement and experiences she’s enjoyed at, and through, UCS with making her the person she is today and giving her the confidence to take the next steps to her dream career role.

“I think I’m a good example of a student that has taken every opportunity put her way. Doing so just made my experience so much more enjoyable, rewarding and exciting.

“To give readings at the Abbey for the Queen’s 90th birthday in front of so many people, and at the Christmas Carol Service, were both amazing experiences for my self confidence. I have been an equality and diversity rep, campaigning mainly around the International Women’s Day and pointing out the difficulties still faced all over the world today. To have been education rep and organised a successful campaign on a subject so important to me, working to get rid of the stigma associated with dyslexia and then winning an award for it, well that feeling was indescribable.

“It’s also amazing to have been able to help to raise so much money for charity in my time here, especially for accessible rowing, a sport so close to my heart.

“Other roles have included being a student ambassador and writing for the student newspaper, which was always an enjoyable way to reflect on what we had achieved.”

She added:

“Taking these opportunities has played such a huge part in the person I have become in the last three years, and has allowed me to meet some amazing human beings. I’ve changed in ways I probably don’t realise, but I am so happy with the person I have become from these experiences, which I wouldn’t have enjoyed, had I gone anywhere else.

“It’s given me strong foundations to pursue a career in teaching. As of September, I start my teacher training with the Salop Teaching Alliance, another step closer to getting to my goal of an Education Officer in the Army. And as a bonus I get to stay in Shrewsbury, including being at UCS every few weeks.”

The UCS staff and friends made in Shrewsbury have willed her to achieve all that she has, and pushed her to follow her chosen path after graduation.

“The quality of teaching is second-to-none and our staff really would do anything for us. The History team is endlessly supportive of everything going on in our lives and has really taken the time to get to know each one of us. If we give them 100% of our effort, they always give 120% of theirs without question.

“The Students’ Union and UCS support staff also saw something in me and had a belief in me that I didn’t have in myself and put me forward for these amazing opportunities.

“Outside of my studies, I’ve had wonderful times with my friends here – highlights include the endless amounts of laughter shared in various scenarios, celebrating birthdays, pep talks, end of year balls, trips to London, and hours spent by and on the river – to name a few.”

Holly says she couldn’t have picked a better place to study her degree.

“I’ve been able to study in a beautiful town, while being close enough to home and my family, and enjoyed the high education quality that could be offered with small class sizes and with the difficulties caused by my dyslexia.

“My studies here have been the most amazing three years, and to be part of the first cohort of a new institution has been exciting. I’m from Cannock Chase, but now if anyone asks me where I’m from I will always say “Shrewsbury”; it has become my home.”