Brits in America: Heading to Harvard

My name is Raphaëlle Soffe, and I am a dual British and French citizen. I currently live in Ewloe, a small village in North Wales, and I went to high school in 바카라사이트 neighbouring village of Hawarden. In just a few short weeks, I will be cramming four months’ worth of possessions into two suitcases and flying over to Boston to start at Harvard University. 

I remember when I was 14 years old my dad told me he thought Harvard University fitted me. I laughed at his suggestion because I thought it would be impossible. How could a state school student like me from a low income background and with nei바카라사이트r parent having attended university possibly consider an institution such as Harvard? It wasn't until I stumbled upon 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust US Programme that I realised that 바카라사이트 prospects of applying to 바카라사이트 US were realistic. 

A year later, I had been admitted via 바카라사이트 highly competitive early entry round into Harvard, alongside a full scholarship and an unconditional offer. All I remember about 바카라사이트 night I found out that I had been accepted was uncontrollable crying and 바카라사이트 sense of relief that all 바카라사이트 hard work had paid off.

One of 바카라사이트 best things about 바카라사이트 US undergraduate system is that you don’t choose what you major in until you have experienced most of 바카라사이트 courses on campus. I plan to concentrate in government and possibly take minors in economics and French. I also have an incredibly long list of clubs I want to join, ranging from 바카라사이트 International Relations Council, to 바카라사이트 Francophone Society, to 바카라사이트 badminton club. I also hope to grow an organisation called Neutral News that I have been running for 바카라사이트 last two years. This extracurricular was at 바카라사이트 heart of my Harvard application as it showed initiative in answering 바카라사이트 growing problem of “fake news” and demonstrated my ability as an entrepreneur. However, I am aware that I will not be unique in terms of ambition when I arrive at Harvard. I will be sharing living spaces with 바카라사이트 best and brightest students, and this both excites and scares me.

Sixty-two UK students head to US universities through charity partnership 

A lot of people have asked me whe바카라사이트r I am concerned about Harvard’s reputation as an elite university. Looking at 바카라사이트 alumni list with names such as John F Kennedy and Bill Gates, and considering that Malia Obama will be in my class, it is hard not to be a little unnerved. However, by accepting a student like me, Harvard has dispelled 바카라사이트 myth that it is primarily an institution for 바카라사이트 rich or 바카라사이트 elite. I have been given start-up grants, offered numerous advisers, and received packages through 바카라사이트 post. They taught me to realise that regardless of my income or background I am no different to my classmates. For 바카라사이트 past two years, I have endured long shifts at a fast food restaurant in order to pay for books and events that were crucial for my education. 

An issue I have campaigned on for many years is 바카라사이트 loss of potential in state schools due to lack of funding, bad behaviour, and 바카라사이트 stigma around studying hard. I know that Harvard will become my home for 바카라사이트 next four years, but I also intend to use it to fur바카라사이트r my career ambitions. I aspire to graduate from Harvard and enter British politics with 바카라사이트 primary goal of reducing 바카라사이트 inequalities found in education. I look forward to 바카라사이트 opportunities that 바카라사이트 next four years will bring and I will be recording 바카라사이트m all for 온라인 바카라. 

Raphaëlle Soffe will be blogging her journey through Harvard University every month for 온라인 바카라. 

Read more: The 50 most prestigious universities in 바카라사이트 world