When Dilraj Kaur joined De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) through Clearing, she had no idea it would lead to such enriching opportunities as supporting asylum seekers and jetting off to Beijing.
The second year Mathematics student recently joined DMU’s Square Mile project to work with AFTER 18, a non-profit organisation helping young asylum-seekers settle into their new life.
She supported students through maths and ICT tutoring and was highly commended for her efforts at the DMU Square Mile Student Awards this year.
The 21-year-old said: “It was a real surprise because they didn't tell us until the actual night of the awards, but it feels good being recognised for raising the aspirations of young people.
“There are so many opportunities with the DMU Square Mile team and it’s a great way for me to volunteer and support real-life problems.”
Dilraj, who has ambitions for a career in the financial sector, is also just about to jet off on a #DMUglobal trip to Beijing’s University of Science and Technology.
In anticipation of her two weeks learning to speak Mandarin and enjoying a range of cultural excursions, Dilraj said: “This is going to be a really exciting trip and an experience I will never forget.”
Through the placement opportunities on her course, Dilraj has also been able to get work experience at a local secondary school, observing teachers, taking part in lesson planning, and helping students improve their maths skills.
She said: “I have really enjoyed seeing the different aspects of teaching and developing a personal opinion on how I would go about teaching if this was the career path I was to choose in the future.”
As a Brand Ambassador for her course, Dilraj regularly shares her enthusiasm and experiences with others, saying: “The CLaSS workshops at the library have helped me develop my own writing style and I’ve also enjoyed learning to use industry software like Minitab, Visual Studios C++ and Matlab.”
The Brand Ambassador role has also boosted Dilraj’s confidence and is helping strengthen her employability skills.
She said: “This has been, and I trust, will continue to be the most fun and exciting opportunity I am a part of at DMU. There is never a boring shift and I have met a variety of new and interesting people that challenge and support me.”
Dilraj, who joined DMU through Clearing describes it as ’the smoothest process’ she has ever been through, adding: “I was able to speak with my course leader over the phone, who was very helpful in answering all my questions and supported me in making the right decision, which in turn was DMU.
“I was accepted on the very same day and I still support my decision today.”
Posted on Tuesday 28 June 2016