“I feel like I can do anything!”

Meet Yasmin, a 19-year-old first-year Economics and Politics student.

Originally from East London, Yasmin chose Southampton for its vast career opportunities and flexible joint honours programmes. Her journey to Southampton was a mix of both excitement and apprehension about making friends and forging strong bonds. Through the Ignite programme, Yasmin has been able to meet like-minded people from similar backgrounds and build connections that have given her more confidence.

Yasmin’s Ignite Internship
Yasmin’s internship was as an Economist Research Assistant, working on a project about diversity in Economics academia. The placement saw Yasmin work with Dr Stefania Parades Fuentas, Principal Teaching Fellow in Economics. As part of her role, Yasmin gathered data from relevant sources with an aim to uncover factors stopping people from studying Economics in university.

When discussing her role, Yasmin said, “When I finished each assigned task, I felt very fulfilled. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to note observations within the data I was collecting and then have a long discussion about the factors affecting people from taking economics in higher education.”

Yasmin considers the internship to have had a hugely positive impact on her time at university so far and feels she has gained invaluable work skills that will equip her for life. She has become more proficient in using Excel and learned effective new techniques for researching key information. This has meant she can use her working time more productively, a valuable strength at both university and in a professional work environment.

Looking to the future
Once she completes her degree, Yasmin hopes to obtain a role in the financial sector. By completing a guaranteed, paid internship in a relevant field of interest, Yasmin can now evidence the technical skills and processes she has learned, strengthening future job applications. Careers support available through Ignite has also been very helpful for Yasmin, offering guidance on writing a standout CV, as well as networking webinars that have given her a chance to meet new people and form working relationships. Access to tailored, thoughtful support and experiences means Yasmin has been able to boost her confidence in both social and work settings and obtain beneficial skills that can be carried forward into her desired career.

Yasmin’s story is a testament to the power of providing meaningful opportunities to students as they develop their future professional lives.

Thank You
Her message to Ignite donors is sincere, “I am very grateful for the help and support that has been given to me in all aspects of my university experience. As someone who is a little bit scared to put myself out there, I am grateful for the support given to me and having people who believe in me. I feel like I can do anything!”