Scholarship Profile – Julie Carrell

I chose to study at Sheffield University due to the reputation of its engineering department. The course that I am now on also attracted me as it is unique and follows my avid interest in motorsport and the automotive industry, which is the area I hope to take my career in once I graduate.

The Scholarship will have a large impact on my life, it will help support me during the summer when I have several possible work experience opportunities lined up; this would mean I could concentrate on furthering my engineering knowledge rather than having to get a job to help towards my income. I will also be able to set up an internet connection at home, something I currently cannot afford, which will help with all aspects of my course, especially for research purposes. I feel very lucky to have been given the scholarship and feel it has given me extra motivation to work hard and do well on my course.

The scholarship will defiantly enhance my `Sheffield experience´, as it will help to easy the financial pressures on me, meaning I can better concentrate on my course and enjoy my time here in Sheffield without having to worry so much about money and the cost of studying.

I genuinely enjoy all the aspects of my course. As a mature student I feel that I appreciate the opportunity to study for a degree more than if I had come to university through the conventional means. The most rewarding part of the course is the practical sessions that I have each week in the workshop, building a competition car that we will hopefully one day be able to use on the race track.

It is very satisfying to see your hard work become something tangible. The most challenging part of the course is the theoretical side, as it is a big step up for me, without A-levels, and takes a lot of work for me to understand all the principles, again once I understand certain topics it is very rewarding.

Donations are very important to the University of Sheffield as without them, many students would struggle to cope with the financial pressures of studying for a degree. This could cause some students to feel that they would be better off working and dropping out of a degree, when they had the potential to do very well. This would be a shame as it is important to have a well educated society.

Donations are also important to the university to help improve the facility and services available to support student, they make a massive impact to all students studying and help make their time at university more manageable and less stressful.

I would like to say how important fundraising is and what a positive impact the scholarships have on students who receive them, and that anyone that can help make this happen will make a huge difference to the University as a whole, as well as individual students who may other wise have been put of studying due to financial pressures.