CLEARING 2018: "I won't get opportunities like this again, so I'm making the most of university life"


Learning about the impact of genocide in Krakow and competing at Varsity are among the diverse experiences Colette Burwood has had at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).

The Criminology and Criminal Justice student thinks it's important to take advantage of everything university life has to offer.

Colette main

"I won't get opportunities like it again, so I want to make the most of my three years," she said

The 20-year-old joined DMU through Clearing, choosing the course because of her interest in what makes people commit crime and how we can prevent this.

Colette said: "I found A-level results day stressful, as I heard at 7am that I hadn't got in to where I originally wanted but didn't get my results until 9am.

"My grades were meant to be higher but I didn't deal with exams as well as I should.

"By 11am I got three offers, but the next stress is you can't confirm until 5pm. But everyone on the phone was understanding and nice and the next day was fine."

Essex-born Colette decided DMU "fit best".

"I love the course," she said. "It's not always what you expect, but it makes you stop and think about everything.

"The lecturers are so nice and friendly and you learn so much.

"I'm enthusiastic about the course and want to pass this on, so I represent the university as a Brand Ambassador."

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In her spare time, Colette is a member of DMU Rowing Club, although a shoulder injury is keeping her out of the water at present.

"I was in the team in my first and second year and I have done Varsity twice. I love it - it's my favourite time of year," she said.

Wanting to make the river nicer where the club spends so much time, she has helped at four clean-ups.

Her most recent experience is a #DMUglobal trip to Krakow, which ties in with a module on international perspectives. The group visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp.

"It was a momentous thing that happened and which we can't allow to happen again. You can never comprehend genocide, but the visit helped us understand how it was allowed to happen," said Colette.

"We also had a lecture at Jagiellonian University looking at Polish criminology and the fall of Communism and how that has changed things."

Alongside studying for her finals, Colette is volunteering at the Bridge, which supports the homeless community in Leicester, and is seeking out more volunteer opportunities through De Montfort Students' Union to enhance her career prospects.

"Fingers crossed, I hope to become a fully qualified probation officer," she added. "Applications open in July, so I am sorting out volunteer work to cover the recruitment criteria."

Posted on Monday 21 May 2018

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