A student from Oldbury is determined to find out just how far her talents can take her, especially since her parents did not enjoy the same opportunity when they were young.
Kiran Johal, 21, is studying for a degree in Psychology at the University of Worcester, and is very aware that a university education is an opportunity that many people around the world do not have access to.
“My parents are from India. My mum never had the chance to go to university, and she is very keen that we make the most of our opportunities in order to secure our futures and get good jobs,” Kiran said. “My older sister is a teacher, having also studied at Worcester for her PGCE. My mum keeps us motivated, and being from an Asian family, my sisters and I are aware of just what a fantastic opportunity it is to be able to explore our potential and pursue our passions in this way.”
Having chosen Psychology as her discipline, Kiran’s ultimate ambition is to make it all the way to the top of the profession.
“I have always wanted to be a doctor,” she said. “If things go well I would like to do a PhD and work in clinical psychology. That’s a field that really excites me.”
The University of Worcester is holding a special open event at Smethwick Youth and Community Centre on Thursday, November 16th from 4pm to 8pm when those interested in finding out more about courses on offer can find out more.
With big aspirations and a host of universities to choose from, Kiran said she chose Worcester because of its welcoming atmosphere and the convenience of staying close to home.
“It’s only one train in to Worcester from here, so it is easy to commute,” she said. “But what I really like about Worcester is how friendly it is there. In a big City, if you bump in to someone they can get quite annoyed, but in Worcester, if you accidentally bump in to someone, they apologise to you. I really like that kind of friendly community feel.”
“I’m really enjoying my course too. At the moment we’re doing a module on the evolution of human behaviour. I always wanted to understand why we behave the way we do; that’s what drove me to apply for Psychology in the first place,” she added.
Kiran is staying close to home but aiming high, and she is conscious that she wants to make the most of her opportunity to explore how far she can go.
“It’s ‘baby steps’ at the moment, because I have a long way to go, but I’m really enjoying my time at the University of Worcester, and hopefully I can really make the most of this opportunity. It’s something a lot of people take for granted, but when I think about my mum and how much she would have liked to have this chance when she was my age, it makes me realise how great it is to have this chance.”
Book your place for the open event on Thursday 16 November.
Worcester Student Life 