Fatima’s Story (LHS 2018)
Fatima joined Loughborough High School Sixth Form in 2016 and studied Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology thanks to the generous support of the Old Girls’ Association and our alumnae community.
“I remember the letter in the post one January morning. As I opened it and read that I’d be getting the Old Girls Association bursary, I felt so proud of myself and so incredibly grateful that this was possible.
Fast forward to getting my GCSEs and going to the High School, the difference in schooling and environment was immense. I’d come from the lowest performing school in the area at the time, with 48% of students receiving 5 grades at a C or higher. Wanting to do well academically was previously not cool – at my old school, if I showed a lot of interest in a subject I was labelled as weird. At the High School, academic enjoyment was the norm. I was no longer weird or picked on for wanting to do well.
I remember the first assembly where hymns were being sang as we walked in, and I felt so incredibly lucky to see another way of being. I dabbled in many clubs, like debate and politics, cross country, junior charity prefects, then finally settled on Young Enterprise and debate club. Young Enterprise taught me so much about teamworking and building a business, and we went on to win around 11 awards for our work. I have so many happy memories from that journey.
Unfortunately, towards the exam season of my first year at LHS, I became severely unwell and was hospitalised for a few months. My exams were affected, I lost my summer, and I really worried that my space would be taken from me because I hadn’t produced the grades I knew I was capable of. Incredibly, through all this, the then Headteacher, Mrs Byrom, came into hospital to check on me and at my final hospital meeting, she was there. She told me that I didn’t need to worry about the finances so I could retake if I wanted to, and that the School would be there to support me in any way they could through my recovery. On returning to school, I had a meeting with all my teachers for the next year to discuss how they could best support me.”
"Sometimes it’s scary to believe in yourself for things that you didn’t think previously possible – but that is where the biggest achievements and most fulfilment comes from"
“I still reflect on the kindness that Mrs Byrom and LHS showed me in this time, every year on Mrs Byrom’s birthday. The support was so invaluable. I had a care team from the NHS, and the School coordinated with them to enable me to have therapy at the School so I could better fit it around my schedule. I went on to get straight As in my AS Year and A*AA overall, miraculously getting into medicine first time around, with 2 interviews and 2 offers, off of the back of a traumatic illness. It’s not every day that someone is lucky enough to bounce back so strongly. I volunteered at a local special needs school and was a dissection club demonstrator, as well as helping out at various science clubs. I also learnt to swim.
When I was in hospital, I remember some nurses telling me I should reassess my life goals, that maybe medicine wasn’t for me. I got handed a leaflet once whilst there about a woman who was just healthy enough to live alone and own a cat, as if that was now my baseline to aspire to. I realise now that those nurses found it easier to think of the worst possible outcome. In contrast, LHS’s default was to be optimistic, to support me in believing in myself to do what I wanted. The support a vulnerable child gets is so important, because they rely on you a lot to help rebuild their own sense of self direction. I’m so grateful that the LHS staff members were there when I needed them, alongside my NHS care team and family, so that I could rebuild myself in a healthier way.
Going forward, my next biggest goal is finishing medical school to become a doctor in the next two years. I’m working towards Arabic fluency to reconnect with my heritage and would love to start a Health/ Wellness company one day. For this goal, I work for the Medical Director of a HealthTech company, to learn as much as I can about this area to help me in my own pursuit of it. I’d also love to start a scholarship fund myself one day.
To the donors who supported my place, thank you for allowing me to have an environment that felt like family and giving me a gift which is truly lifelong.”
There is no better gift than education. If you can, please make a gift today to give more young people like Fatima the opportunity to walk in your footsteps and realise their full potential. Be extraordinary.
