We're motivated and inspired!

The GEEMA Taster Day, an event aimed at Year-12 students, attracted a record number of around 450 participants, almost filling one of the university’s largest lecture halls. The day included talks on admissions, tours of the colleges led by current students, and an introduction to student life at Cambridge provided by a panel of undergraduates.

Questions from the audience came thick and fast whenever there was a chance to quiz any of the speakers, who included Dr Oke Odudu, a Law Fellow at Emmanuel College, Siza Mtimbiri, a PhD student at St Edmund’s College, and Tom Chigbo, President of Cambridge University Students’ Union.

All three spoke openly about their experiences and found themselves surrounded by students eager to talk to them informally after their presentations, posing questions about their personal journeys and academic subject areas.

“We really appreciate the contribution of speakers like Oke, Siza and Tom, who give their time and energy to events with such enthusiasm. They’re people that sixth-formers can identify with – and make a huge difference to how BME students view Cambridge and the question of fitting in,” said Mark Copestake, GEEMA Coordinator.

Last week saw visits from two smaller groups. On Tuesday the educational charity Excell3 brought 18 Year 12-students (pictured above) to spend the day at Cambridge, taking part in activities and talks at Trinity Hall. On Thursday, the Windsor Fellowship Trust, also an educational charity, brought 35 pupils from Years 10 and 11 to spend a day based at Queens’ College.

Speakers at these events included Dr Harold Ayetey, Clinical Research Fellow at the Wellcome Centre for Stem Cell Research and a clinician at Addenbrooke's Hospital, and Julia Selman-Ayetey, a barrister and criminologist who took an MPhil at Murray Edwards College. Both spoke not just about their careers but also about their lives and educational backgrounds.

From all of the speakers came a similar message: work hard, follow your passions, make the most of opportunities and don’t let your background deter you from what you want to do.

“The speakers we heard this morning were motivating and inspirational – it’s really great to learn where people have come from and how far they’ve got in their lives. I want to study medicine or maths – and it’s given me a boost to be here for the day,” said Kimberley Hamilton (pictured bottom left), 17, a pupil from Codsall High School in Wolverhampton who came with the Excell3 group.

Carson Yarde, Director of the pre-19 programme at the Windsor Fellowship said: “Spending the day here helps our students to realise that Cambridge is a realistic option – and it raises their aspirations and encourages them to focus. If you’ve never been to a place it can seem remote and unattainable. They often need reassurance that they would fit in and have fun – and they got both today.”