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My Story –  Student Equality Collaborator

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My Story –  Student Equality Collaborator

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I’m a second year Fine Art and Art History student interested in both art and psychology, working as a student equality collaborator at the university.

As a woman, I’m no stranger to the negative effects on quality of life, health and self-esteem that come from feeling unsafe or being treated poorly, purely because of who you are. I wish there had been more support in place for me growing up, as on the rare occasions that I tried to speak up for myself, I was only met with improper responses or a sense of shame. I can only think this could be attributed to a lack of training and education around sensitive issues in the systems I relied on for help. I believe I would have struggled a lot less if there had been a better culture in place. However, on the positive side, these experiences have given me insight into what needs to be done better, and they have shaped me into someone who is quite sensitive and empathetic to others, as I’m aware of how difficult it can be for people to speak up for themselves and their rights.

Every individual deserves to feel safe and valued, and all of this has given me a drive to want to learn about others and how I can help to create stronger and more reliable resources and systems so that people can feel they are within a community that doesn’t allow exploitative and discriminative behaviours in the first place, but that if such things do occur, they have a safe space to rely on.

Coming to Kingston, I’ve been glad to see that there are well-formed, dedicated teams in place for this at the University, and I feel appreciative to be joining one of these teams so that I can take part in it. I’ve always felt a bit powerless when it comes to this kind of stuff, but I hope being in this role will now allow me to be proactive in creating the kinds of spaces and culture for people at Kingston that I know was lacking in my earlier educational settings, and that will mean a lot to me.

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Zayna, a second-year student, is deeply engaged in the field of Accounting and Finance at Kingston University. Initially apprehensive about the challenges of university life, she hails from an area with limited diversity and sought connections with peers who share her background. Fortunately, Kingston University provided exactly that, with amenities such as halal food options and a dedicated prayer room, creating a sense of belonging for Zayna. Actively participating in university life, she is committed to making a positive impact. Zayna holds roles as a Student Equality Collaborator and is involved in the Student Ambassador scheme, mentoring programs, and course representation, and serves as the President of the Accounting and Finance Society. Beyond academics, she contributes to a focus group for girls who wear headscarves in sports and joins various societies, showcasing her dedication to making a difference and fostering inclusivity within the university community.

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My name is Hana, and I am a second-year undergraduate adult nursing student.

Studying adult nursing was heavily influenced by my caring responsibilities for a loved one. Taking on the role as their caregiver meant I spent a lot of time aiding their recovery by encouraging them to remain positive and follow their treatment plan, as well as organizing their prescriptions and physiotherapy/hospital appointments. Witnessing the positive impact my efforts had and feeling the rewarding feeling of helping a loved one in their most vulnerable time made me want to continue stepping into this role.

Applying to Kingston, I felt quite worried about balancing my ongoing caring responsibilities with the assessments and teaching blocks spent on placement. When I was made aware of the help that was available for students in my position, I didn’t think twice to reach out and find out what the KU Cares Scheme really meant. I have not regretted it and cannot thank the KU Cares team enough. The experiences I’ve had on placement, with their help in communicating my concerns and reasonable adjustment needs, have allowed me to benefit without any unnecessary stress and actually do well.

Now that I am in my second year, I am determined to seek out students who may be facing the same challenges that I faced as a KU Cares student and collaborate on ways to make their time at university easier and, more importantly, enjoyable. Students may not be aware of the support that is available and/or exactly how much they are entitled to. Recognizing this, I hope to share my experiences as a beacon of possibilities and widen their perspectives on what it means to be cared for.

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Hello,

My name is Shivani, and I am a third-year undergraduate student currently studying Architecture.

I joined KU Carers as a part of the Young Adult Carers group, being a Young Adult Carer means that I have unpaid caring responsibilities for a family member or close friend who has a long-term illness, disability, mental health condition, is elderly or who struggles with addiction and substance misuse.

During my time at Kingston, I’ve had to travel back home very often to take care of my dad as he has long term health issues. This can be very exhausting and can result in me falling behind with my work. In order to be able to do this, I’ve had to manage my time carefully as I’m in my last year at university. The way I’ve managed to keep up with my work is by creating a to do list of what needs to be done and by when. This is to ensure that I meet all my deadlines.

I’ve always kept my tutors and the KU Cares team updated with how things are going and about my caring responsibilities. By keeping them informed, I feel more comfortable and less anxious about the workload and deadlines.

By sharing my story, I am giving an insight of what it’s like to study and be a Young Adult Carer, KU Cares has been a big support throughout my time at Kingston and I hope to continue to raise awareness about being a Young Adult Carer.

Thank you

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My name is

Assia

and I am

a first year Psychology student (BSc) and

a care leaver who has

experienced the challenges of navigating through life

.

As a care leaver, I have had to rely on

my own resilience, determination, and hard work to achieve my goals. I

have had to

navigate complex systems, such as the foster care system and the social care system, and I

have learned to advocate for myself and others who are in similar situations.

Through

these

experiences as a care leaver, I have developed a strong sen

se of empathy and

a desire to help others who are going through similar challenges. I believe that KU Cares

plays an essential role in supporting care leavers and other underrepresented groups within

the university community. I hope to be a part of this ef

fort by sharing my story, volunteering

my time and resources, and advocating for the needs of care leavers within the university.

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I’m currently a student at Kingston university. Due to my personal struggles i have found it challenging to actually focus on my studies and put my all into my course. After years of trying i’m finally on the right track. Im more focused and determined than ever to reach the finish line.

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Exchanging and listening to each other’s stories can be inspiring, empowering and insightful. Learning about different experiences provides an insight into other mindsets, traditions and cultures. 

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Exchanging and listening to each other’s stories can be inspiring, empowering and insightful. Learning about different experiences provides an insight into other mindsets, traditions and cultures. 

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Join our student community who have shared their story by sharing yours too and keeping the conversation going.

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My proudest achievement so far is __________?

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My proudest achievement so far is __________?

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What do you like most about being part of the Kingston community?

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What do you like most about being part of the Kingston community?

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What did you learn today that made you reflect?

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What did you learn today that made you reflect?

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Where in the world is special to you and why?

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Where in the world is special to you and why?