Why did you apply for the programme?

I’ve been in foster care for the past 9 years. I applied for the program because from a young age, I’ve always wanted to design houses and the spaces where people spend their daily lives. I thought that the architecture Summer School at Cambridge would help me as I didn’t know what it would be like to be in university. I can now say that this is where I want to go in the future.

Did you have any worries before attending?

I was very excited to attend the summer school, but I was a little bit worried about the train journey down. I travelled the furthest I’ve been away from home (6 hours) by myself! But in the end, the journey was fine, and I actually enjoyed having some time to myself.

What were your highlights of the programme?

The highlight of the week was learning out about the architecture course itself. I gained experience of what it is like to study architecture at an undergraduate level and what would be expected of me whilst I am at university. I really enjoyed it and helped me realise that I definitely wanted to study it.

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

If someone was unsure whether to apply to a Sutton Trust Summer School, I’d recommend that they just apply as it is such a unique experience. At first, I was unsure as I am very shy and don’t like talking to people, however, the people there were wonderful as they just come over and start a conversation! The staff were also helpful as they could see that I was struggling socially and tried to get me involved which was really helpful!