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<\/a><\/p>\nThere was a moment last Christmas, when my mother walked through the door with parcels from the food bank, and I thought, “who am I trying to kid, getting a university degree?”<\/p>\n
But arriving back at Cardiff and hearing the news that I had been chosen to receive the James Thomas Award filled me with immense optimism. It felt overwhelming that such a prestigious institution had recognised me as a student with potential to succeed.<\/p>\n
Going to university was not a given for me. I come from a very working class family where university had never even been attempted before. I felt out of my depth. But I listened to the teachers at my comprehensive school, had faith in my abilities, and applied.<\/p>\n
Cardiff University has changed my life, identity, and mindset in so many complex and unexpected ways.<\/p>\n
The most important change is realising I should not be ashamed of who I am and where I\u2019ve come from. I was once told that my writing style could be too convoluted. I was overcompensating for the fact that I was a working class girl with a Swansea accent with very little chance of achieving in academia. Now I remind myself that by being a working-class writer with experiences to share, a positive cultural intervention is already underway.<\/p>\n
University has allowed me to enter a new world of possibilities that I never even knew existed. I have learned ideas and concepts that have given me insight into why things are the way they are in our society. And I have my own ideas about how to actually change it.<\/p>\n
When I had the pleasure of meeting [James\u2019 mother] Mrs Thomas, she said something that stuck with me. She said that university offers young people the chance to grow and flourish whilst remaining in a secure and protected support network. I don\u2019t think that she could have been more right.<\/p>\n
With the knowledge I have gained and support I have received, I feel confident that my future will actually be positive.<\/p>\n
Support students like Naomi with a life-changing gift<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nAlso in this series:<\/h3>\n
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