Why did you apply for the programme?

I come from a town in the Welsh valleys where I attend a Welsh-medium state school. My teacher suggested that I apply to the UK Summer Schools programme because I was unsure if I’d be able to cope with being away from home in an academic environment where everything is taught through English.

Did you have any worries before attending?

All my formal education has been taught through Welsh so I was concerned that switching to English was going to be too challenging and that I would be misunderstood by my peers or by the teachers. The first session was a shock to the system, but I quickly adjusted to translating my thoughts from Welsh to English, and found doing so much easier than I initially thought it would be.

What were your highlights of the programme?

The highlight of my week was the ice breaker sessions and the social sessions. They provided an opportunity to get to know others in a fun way and helped me step out of my comfort zone. The University of Bristol also had a karaoke night which was very memorable. My group performed Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus—It was equally hilarious and embarrassing; I’ll never forget it! Following my time at the summer school, I have gained confidence in my ability to meet new people and to function well in both social and academic settings.

What would you say to someone who is unsure about applying?

As clichèd as saying is, it’s very true in this instance: life really begins where your comfort zone ends! The experience was one of the highlights of my summer and there is nowhere else that offers such an opportunity! I’ve made friends with a diverse group of people that I’m still in contact with, and it has given me so much to discuss in my personal statement. I would 100% recommend a Sutton Trust Summer School to anyone who would ask!

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Rwy’n dod o dref yng nghymoedd De Cymru lle rwy’n mynychu ysgol wladol Gymraeg. Awgrymodd fy athro y dylwn i wneud cais i Ysgol Haf oherwydd roeddwn yn ansicr a fyddwn yn gallu ymdopi â bod oddi cartref mewn amgylchedd academaidd lle mae popeth yn cael ei ddysgu trey gyfrwng y Saesneg. Mae fy holl addysg ffurfiol wedi cael ei dysgu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg ac felly roeddwn i’n poeni’n fawr byddai newid i’r Saesneg yn mynd i fod yn rhy heriol ac y byddwn i’n cael fy nghamddeall gan fy nghyfoedion neu’r athrawon. Roedd y sesiwn gyntaf yn sioc i’r system, ond fe wnes i addasu’n gyflym i gyfieithu fy syniadau o’r Gymraeg i’r Saesneg, a roedd hyn yn llawer haws nag yr oeddwn i’n disgwyl.

Uchafbwynt fy wythnos oedd y sesiynau cymdeithasol. Roedd yr rhain yn darparu cyfle i ddod i adnabod eraill mewn ffordd hwylus ac fe wnaethant fy helpu i gamu allan o’m mharth cysur. Cafodd Prifysgol Bryste noson karaoke a oedd yn gofiadwy iawn. Perfformiodd fy ngrŵp ‘Party in the USA’ gan Miley Cyrus – Roedd y hyn yr un mor ddoniol ag yr oedd e’n chwithig; Anghofia i’r brofiad yma byth!

Yn dilyn fy amser yn yr ysgol haf, rwyf wedi magu hyder yn fy ngallu i gwrdd â phobl newydd ac i weithredu’n dda mewn sefyllfaoedd cymdeithasol ac academaidd. Rwy’n gobeithio ymgeisio am radd gwyddoniaeth fiofeddygol yn y brifysgol, ac yna i fynd ymlaen i ymgeisio am feddyginiaeth (mynediad i raddedigion).

Mae’n ddyfyniad ‘cheesy’ iawn, ond mae’n berthnasol iawn i’r sefyllfa yma: “mae bywyd yn dechrau lle mae’ch parth cysur yn dod i ben”. Y profiad oedyma oedd un o uchafbwyntiau fy haf ac nid oes unman arall sy’n cynnig cyfle o’r fath! Rydw i wedi gwneud ffrindiau gyda grŵp diddorol ac amrywiol o bob, ac rydw i’n parhau i fod mewn cysylltiad â nhw. Mae hyn hefyd wedi rhoi cymaint i mi drafod yn fy natganiad personol am UCAS. Byddwn i’n argymell rhoi cais mewn am Ysgol Haf Sutton Trust i unrhyw un a fyddai’n gofyn!