As aspire coordinator I will focus on these critical areas: 

 

• Raise the online profile of the Aspire programme.

 

Currently, only a few students are aware of the work that KCL Aspire do. The programme seeks to inform, inspire, and guide students of Afro-Caribbean heritage from low income backgrounds in sixth form and college as they apply to university. I will update the Aspire website and social media pages to inform people of our work and the opportunities available. Additionally, I will publicise our work with the hope of securing funding for future Aspire events and involving more current students as mentors in my proposed mentorship programme.

 

• Reintroduce the mentorship programme.

 

I was a member of the Empowered by Vee mentoring group and a mentee on the Blossm mentorship programme. The benefits were innumerable and my goal is to help others in the same way. I envision that this programme will not only inform prospective students about life at KCL and the process of applying to a Russell Group university but empower them to set and achieve big goals. In the book ‘The One Thing’ the authors write, “thinking big isn’t the absence of doubts but moving past them”. I want the KCL Aspire mentorship programme to equip participants with the tools they need to move past any doubts holding them back and reinforce that it is possible to overcome barriers and achieve great success. In regards to my experience, I have assisted students with the drafting of personal statements and have supported them with the UCAS process; as Aspire coordinator I will utilise these same skills to help prospective students. 

 

•  Hold an Aspire conference and involve the ACS in more Aspire Student Network events.

 

It is crucial for students to see other people who look like them in places they aspire to be in because representation is important - seeing someone from a similar background succeeding makes it easier to visualise yourself doing the same. I will coordinate with the ACS so that they can participate in events such as the Aspire conference and Q&A sessions to speak about their own experiences whilst applying to and studying at university. The Aspire conference will consist of talks from a variety of people- fellow students, industry experts and people from the admissions department with the aim of encouraging Afro-Caribbean students from low income backgrounds to progress to higher education. If you ask any of my friends they’d tell you how much I love organising events! In my leadership roles at sixth form, I planned and hosted many events which required great time-management, organisation and communication skills, all of which I will apply to the role of Aspire coordinator.

 

I look forward to the prospect of applying my technical skills and creativity to the role of Aspire coordinator and hope that you will vote for me.