How did you first hear about the Ragdoll Scholarship, and what made you

decide to apply for a scholarship?

I initially applied to the Experience Sheffield scholarship when I was still in the process of figuring out which university I wanted to go to. After receiving a conditional offer from the University of Sheffield, I then received another email saying that my Experience Sheffield scholarship was successful. Once I started at Sheffield, I was invited to a talk with some staff and other scholarship students to find out more about our scholarships. At this talk I then was informed that my Experience Sheffield scholarship was classified as a Ragdoll Scholarship, and I received a packet of information about my generous donor. The reason I applied for a scholarship was because I come from a working-class background and had/have no financial support from my family. Thus, the cost of going to university was very daunting for me as I knew that I would have to afford it/sort my finances out myself. I told myself that any university which would offer me a scholarship has the best interests in mind for their students, and would be a university which could help me both financially and emotionally.

How has the financial support from the Ragdoll Scholarship helped you in managing your university life, both academically and personally? 

I have used my scholarship to ensure that I am eating well and to improve my relationship with food - this is because growing up in poverty meant that I hadn’t tried most foods and rarely had fresh food. Now I am more passionate about food and have managed to become healthier, all of which have allowed me to concentrate on my university work and have reduced the frequency of my hemiplegic migraines. Additionally, I have extra money to pay for my OCD medication which then allows me to socialise and go outside more comfortably. This scholarship has allowed to become happier, healthier, and achieve a 1st in my second year.

Beyond the financial support, has the scholarship provided you with any additional opportunities (such as mentorship, networking, or personal development)?

Yes, my Ragdoll scholarship has allowed me to have access from a consultant of the Careers team for CV, cover letter, application, and interview advice. Thanks to my scholarship, I was able to access additional support without delay, including timely Careers appointments. This early access allowed me to connect with the Careers team, benefit from their guidance, and take advantage of valuable opportunities such as Northern City Connections and more …

Can you share a particular moment or experience where the scholarship made a significant difference in your university journey?

My Ragdoll Scholarship has meant that securing a part-time job is not absolutely necessary, but rather just an option to gain work experience. Due to this, in my second year I chose to focus on boosting my employability by using the money from my scholarship to support me. I managed to do some work shadowing with the Jessop West Employability Hub and become a Student Fundraiser - me and the team even raised, I believe, over £60,000! These opportunities then led to me being able to represent the student voice at the House of Lords as a Student Ambassador. Because of this, I have become much more confident when I network with others and have genuinely come out of my shell. 

What advice would you give to prospective students who are thinking about applying for the Ragdoll Scholarship? 

Make use of the support from Careers! In your first year you should hear from a member of the Careers team who will be your designated call for careers advice, and you should reach out for anything from CV tips to finding great employability opportunities. Whilst the financial support is great, university is all about upskilling so please use your time wisely.