[Applause] okay I was born in Canada when I was 14
okay I was born in Canada when I was 14
okay I was born in Canada when I was 14 years old I started working in my family
years old I started working in my family
years old I started working in my family it wasn’t normal for somebody to carry
it wasn’t normal for somebody to carry
it wasn’t normal for somebody to carry on with education it was important to
on with education it was important to
on with education it was important to get a job you were to get a job move out
get a job you were to get a job move out
get a job you were to get a job move out start a family
start a family
start a family carry on with the cycle that was pretty
carry on with the cycle that was pretty
carry on with the cycle that was pretty much it in my final year of high school
much it in my final year of high school
much it in my final year of high school it was decided by my family that we were
it was decided by my family that we were
it was decided by my family that we were going to move to the UK during that time
going to move to the UK during that time
going to move to the UK during that time because I was a minor
because I was a minor
because I was a minor it was also chosen that I would leave
it was also chosen that I would leave
it was also chosen that I would leave school and get two jobs to save money
school and get two jobs to save money
school and get two jobs to save money for the move when we got here for the
for the move when we got here for the
for the move when we got here for the first 7 years of living in this country
first 7 years of living in this country
first 7 years of living in this country I was in and out of different jobs
I was in and out of different jobs
I was in and out of different jobs I couldn’t keep a job I didn’t have any
I couldn’t keep a job I didn’t have any
I couldn’t keep a job I didn’t have any experience I didn’t have any education
experience I didn’t have any education
experience I didn’t have any education and my family they didn’t really think
and my family they didn’t really think
and my family they didn’t really think it was important just go and get
it was important just go and get
it was important just go and get whatever jobs available when I was 21 I
whatever jobs available when I was 21 I
whatever jobs available when I was 21 I had to declare myself bankrupt because I
had to declare myself bankrupt because I
had to declare myself bankrupt because I got into a lot of debt this is when I
got into a lot of debt this is when I
got into a lot of debt this is when I realized that I was in a low social
realized that I was in a low social
realized that I was in a low social class I didn’t think I was ever gonna be
class I didn’t think I was ever gonna be
class I didn’t think I was ever gonna be able to call myself out of this social
able to call myself out of this social
able to call myself out of this social class five years ago I had my son
class five years ago I had my son
class five years ago I had my son unfortunately I became an unplanned
unfortunately I became an unplanned
unfortunately I became an unplanned mother I was unemployed and uneducated I
mother I was unemployed and uneducated I
mother I was unemployed and uneducated I had no idea what I was going to do in my
had no idea what I was going to do in my
had no idea what I was going to do in my future all I know is that I had a child
future all I know is that I had a child
future all I know is that I had a child and I didn’t want to represent him the
and I didn’t want to represent him the
and I didn’t want to represent him the same that I was represented during this
same that I was represented during this
same that I was represented during this time I ended up on a bus ride of all
time I ended up on a bus ride of all
time I ended up on a bus ride of all places you hear random conversations and
places you hear random conversations and
places you hear random conversations and just eavesdrop sometimes this one
just eavesdrop sometimes this one
just eavesdrop sometimes this one conversation was a woman telling the
conversation was a woman telling the
conversation was a woman telling the lady about GCSEs at a local college and
lady about GCSEs at a local college and
lady about GCSEs at a local college and she said that the GCSEs are free of
she said that the GCSEs are free of
she said that the GCSEs are free of charge for parents that didn’t finish
charge for parents that didn’t finish
charge for parents that didn’t finish education and that they offered creche
education and that they offered creche
education and that they offered creche for the students for the children free
for the students for the children free
for the students for the children free of charge I actually sat on the bus
of charge I actually sat on the bus
of charge I actually sat on the bus thinking well I want to support my child
thinking well I want to support my child
thinking well I want to support my child but I don’t have education so how can I
but I don’t have education so how can I
but I don’t have education so how can I do that without being a hypocrite so I
do that without being a hypocrite so I
do that without being a hypocrite so I called the local college and I asked
called the local college and I asked
called the local college and I asked about it and I studied my GCSEs I had no
about it and I studied my GCSEs I had no
about it and I studied my GCSEs I had no intentions of going into any further
intentions of going into any further
intentions of going into any further education after that I strictly one of
education after that I strictly one of
education after that I strictly one of my GCSEs so that I could support my son
my GCSEs so that I could support my son
my GCSEs so that I could support my son in his education during this time while
in his education during this time while
in his education during this time while I was studying for my GCSEs the lifelong
I was studying for my GCSEs the lifelong
I was studying for my GCSEs the lifelong learning center here at the University
learning center here at the University
learning center here at the University leave Leave reached out to me I class
leave Leave reached out to me I class
leave Leave reached out to me I class myself is the forgotten and told me
myself is the forgotten and told me
myself is the forgotten and told me about different degrees that were on
about different degrees that were on
about different degrees that were on offer at the University and told us
offer at the University and told us
offer at the University and told us about some study days that we can come
about some study days that we can come
about some study days that we can come and experience now in my mind that
and experience now in my mind that
and experience now in my mind that wasn’t for me I’m not allowed to come to
wasn’t for me I’m not allowed to come to
wasn’t for me I’m not allowed to come to university I didn’t come from a rich
university I didn’t come from a rich
university I didn’t come from a rich family I didn’t come from a family where
family I didn’t come from a family where
family I didn’t come from a family where it was expected for you to go to
it was expected for you to go to
it was expected for you to go to university so it was it was advertised
university so it was it was advertised
university so it was it was advertised to me a few times about coming in and
to me a few times about coming in and
to me a few times about coming in and experiencing different courses or just
experiencing different courses or just
experiencing different courses or just coming in for support for my GCSE so
coming in for support for my GCSE so
coming in for support for my GCSE so that I could do better so I came along
that I could do better so I came along
that I could do better so I came along to the events literally just for the
to the events literally just for the
to the events literally just for the free food and the free childcare so I
free food and the free childcare so I
free food and the free childcare so I could do my GCSE it was during this time
could do my GCSE it was during this time
could do my GCSE it was during this time that I realized social mobility was
that I realized social mobility was
that I realized social mobility was happening while I was at these events I
happening while I was at these events I
happening while I was at these events I was recommended to speak to an advisor
was recommended to speak to an advisor
was recommended to speak to an advisor when I spoke to an advisor this person
when I spoke to an advisor this person
when I spoke to an advisor this person literally picked my brains and tried to
literally picked my brains and tried to
literally picked my brains and tried to find out what kind of dreams or what
find out what kind of dreams or what
find out what kind of dreams or what kind of job that I wanted in the future
kind of job that I wanted in the future
kind of job that I wanted in the future I actually had one I just never realized
I actually had one I just never realized
I actually had one I just never realized before they told me there was a degree
before they told me there was a degree
before they told me there was a degree at the university that I could apply for
at the university that I could apply for
at the university that I could apply for and that I could get the job that I
and that I could get the job that I
and that I could get the job that I wanted at the end of it I still didn’t
wanted at the end of it I still didn’t
wanted at the end of it I still didn’t believe it I took it home I thought
believe it I took it home I thought
believe it I took it home I thought about it I thought it’s an opportunity
about it I thought it’s an opportunity
about it I thought it’s an opportunity that can’t be missed I’m definitely not
that can’t be missed I’m definitely not
that can’t be missed I’m definitely not going to get the place but I’d be really
going to get the place but I’d be really
going to get the place but I’d be really stupid not to apply I got my acceptance
stupid not to apply I got my acceptance
stupid not to apply I got my acceptance letter I’ve never been so proud in all
letter I’ve never been so proud in all
letter I’ve never been so proud in all my life it was during this time I
my life it was during this time I
my life it was during this time I realized social mobility can happen
realized social mobility can happen
realized social mobility can happen because it did I wasn’t just
because it did I wasn’t just
because it did I wasn’t just experiencing a life that I could make
experiencing a life that I could make
experiencing a life that I could make for myself but I was breaking the
for myself but I was breaking the
for myself but I was breaking the barriers what social mobility means to
barriers what social mobility means to
barriers what social mobility means to me is breaking down the social classes
me is breaking down the social classes
me is breaking down the social classes and allowing people to experience and
and allowing people to experience and
and allowing people to experience and live lives that they choose for
live lives that they choose for
live lives that they choose for themselves I didn’t have to choose the
themselves I didn’t have to choose the
themselves I didn’t have to choose the life that was socially constructed for
life that was socially constructed for
life that was socially constructed for me the lifelong learning center at the
me the lifelong learning center at the
me the lifelong learning center at the University of Leeds during these events
University of Leeds during these events
University of Leeds during these events have learning champions that come and
have learning champions that come and
have learning champions that come and talk about their life stories these
talk about their life stories these
talk about their life stories these learning champions are people just like
learning champions are people just like
learning champions are people just like me just like every single one of you
me just like every single one of you
me just like every single one of you better students either now previously or
better students either now previously or
better students either now previously or are trying to assist somebody else in
are trying to assist somebody else in
are trying to assist somebody else in their education
their education
their education basically just telling their life story
basically just telling their life story
basically just telling their life story about challenges obstacles the success
about challenges obstacles the success
about challenges obstacles the success stories any part of your life story that
stories any part of your life story that
stories any part of your life story that you think is relevant and that can touch
you think is relevant and that can touch
you think is relevant and that can touch somebody these learning champions
somebody these learning champions
somebody these learning champions weren’t an innovative idea from the
weren’t an innovative idea from the
weren’t an innovative idea from the University and the reason why I’m saying
University and the reason why I’m saying
University and the reason why I’m saying innovated is because to me an innovation
innovated is because to me an innovation
innovated is because to me an innovation is a change
is a change
is a change it’s something that is created as in a
it’s something that is created as in a
it’s something that is created as in a project it’s something that can gain
project it’s something that can gain
project it’s something that can gain something it’s not just it’s not just
something it’s not just it’s not just
something it’s not just it’s not just creativity it’s an impact it’s a power
creativity it’s an impact it’s a power
creativity it’s an impact it’s a power it’s being able to get things across to
it’s being able to get things across to
it’s being able to get things across to people basically these learning
people basically these learning
people basically these learning champions spoke to me and they told me
champions spoke to me and they told me
champions spoke to me and they told me these life stories and I could relate
these life stories and I could relate
these life stories and I could relate them they were emotional their stories
them they were emotional their stories
them they were emotional their stories were relatable and it made me realize
were relatable and it made me realize
were relatable and it made me realize that I can actually visualize myself
that I can actually visualize myself
that I can actually visualize myself here at University because I still
here at University because I still
here at University because I still didn’t believe and I still don’t believe
didn’t believe and I still don’t believe
didn’t believe and I still don’t believe that I belong here I did a conference
that I belong here I did a conference
that I belong here I did a conference last year and it was during this time I
last year and it was during this time I
last year and it was during this time I had a bit of an epiphany and I realized
had a bit of an epiphany and I realized
had a bit of an epiphany and I realized how far I’ve actually come in my journey
how far I’ve actually come in my journey
how far I’ve actually come in my journey and I’ve basically suggested that I was
and I’ve basically suggested that I was
and I’ve basically suggested that I was trapped
trapped
trapped I was completely solid and I had loved
I was completely solid and I had loved
I was completely solid and I had loved the change wrapped around me with a
the change wrapped around me with a
the change wrapped around me with a great big padlock when the university
great big padlock when the university
great big padlock when the university came and found me one of the Forgotten
came and found me one of the Forgotten
came and found me one of the Forgotten they broke the padlock it came off when
they broke the padlock it came off when
they broke the padlock it came off when I came to the University and I spoke to
I came to the University and I spoke to
I came to the University and I spoke to the learning champions they started to
the learning champions they started to
the learning champions they started to unravel the chains now that I’m here at
unravel the chains now that I’m here at
unravel the chains now that I’m here at University the chains are gone I don’t
University the chains are gone I don’t
University the chains are gone I don’t just have to do the job that I said I
just have to do the job that I said I
just have to do the job that I said I wanted to do the potential is endless I
wanted to do the potential is endless I
wanted to do the potential is endless I can do anything that I want to I
can do anything that I want to I
can do anything that I want to I couldn’t feel any greater for the power
couldn’t feel any greater for the power
couldn’t feel any greater for the power that I have
that I have
that I have so did you know what I did I volunteered
so did you know what I did I volunteered
so did you know what I did I volunteered to be a learning champion as well
to be a learning champion as well
to be a learning champion as well because I wanted to make a difference in
because I wanted to make a difference in
because I wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives I wanted to tell
other people’s lives I wanted to tell
other people’s lives I wanted to tell that person it’s not real that yes you
that person it’s not real that yes you
that person it’s not real that yes you can make a difference in your life you
can make a difference in your life you
can make a difference in your life you don’t have to live the life that’s being
don’t have to live the life that’s being
don’t have to live the life that’s being designed for you you don’t have to do a
designed for you you don’t have to do a
designed for you you don’t have to do a specific job because you told you or
specific job because you told you or
specific job because you told you or because that’s all you’re qualified to
because that’s all you’re qualified to
because that’s all you’re qualified to do it’s not as simple as that any
life is not simple there’s lots of
life is not simple there’s lots of challenges there’s lots of fights
challenges there’s lots of fights
challenges there’s lots of fights there’s lots of compassion there’s lots
there’s lots of compassion there’s lots
there’s lots of compassion there’s lots of aims and goals the only thing is a
of aims and goals the only thing is a
of aims and goals the only thing is a lot of us forget to reach for those a
lot of us forget to reach for those a
lot of us forget to reach for those a lot of us put those aside but we try to
lot of us put those aside but we try to
lot of us put those aside but we try to get by in life we need what’s best for
get by in life we need what’s best for
get by in life we need what’s best for the future and I think what’s best for
the future and I think what’s best for
the future and I think what’s best for the future is social mobility and
the future is social mobility and
the future is social mobility and innovation and I think we thought we’re
innovation and I think we thought we’re
innovation and I think we thought we’re gonna guide what we want as the
gonna guide what we want as the
gonna guide what we want as the graduates of the future and also the
graduates of the future and also the
graduates of the future and also the education system that we need I can’t
education system that we need I can’t
education system that we need I can’t say thank you enough to the University
say thank you enough to the University
say thank you enough to the University of Leeds or the learning champions for
of Leeds or the learning champions for
of Leeds or the learning champions for what they’ve done to me not only have
what they’ve done to me not only have
what they’ve done to me not only have they taken me out of a social class and
they taken me out of a social class and
they taken me out of a social class and let me experience social mobility and
let me experience social mobility and
let me experience social mobility and innovation but they’ve created me as a
innovation but they’ve created me as a
innovation but they’ve created me as a person I always knew I was creative but
person I always knew I was creative but
person I always knew I was creative but I never knew my Worth and I’m thankful
I never knew my Worth and I’m thankful
I never knew my Worth and I’m thankful for that thank you
”
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