Nicky Jecks
I had three fine sons and a husband by
Medicine is an incredibly challenging
the tender age of 22. I worked as a carer
course, but it is also fascinating, and
for adults with learning disabilities, a
I am very fortunate to see things that
job which I loved, but after 6 years I
few people experience. I am eternally
felt ready for a new challenge. At the
grateful to the women who saw my
age of 27, having sadly separated from
potential and are enabling me to
my husband, I decided to address my
realise it.
fear of exams and attempt A Levels. In the back of my mind I did this with a view to applying to medical schools, but never in my wildest imaginings did it occur to me that my applications I have my matriculation picture hanging on my living room wall. Not to announce to guests that I am indeed a student of the University of Cambridge, or because I had a convenient bit of bare wall, but because every time I happen to glance up at the beatific faces of Professor Janet Todd, Dr Stephanie Ellington, Dr Orsola Rath Spivack and my fellow students beaming down on me I still feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and astonishment that I was given the opportunity to realise my potential at such an amazing institution. I don’t think it is a feeling that will ever diminish. And it is Lucy Cavendish College that has provided me and my family with this fantastic opportunity. I am often asked about my route to university, because like many women at Lucy Cavendish, it may be considered unconventional. In my case, I was very bright at school until disaster struck. Aged 13, I discovered boys and a general contempt for authority, and decided that education was not for me. I left school at the age of 16 with a handful of GCSEs. In part, I think my resistance to school was due to a fear of failure, and this was something I had to overcome before I could contemplate sitting any more exams.
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would be successful. I promised myself that if I achieved good grades in my
Nicky has just completed her the second year of the MVST gaining 1st class results in both years.
Lucy Kitching
modules then I would apply, and despite
I spent a month in Barcelona at
delivering another wonderful son shortly
Christmas last year. Barcelona is
before my AS exams (unexpectedly
the capital city of Catalonia, an
alone at home‌), I performed well and
autonomous region of North-western
gave serious thought to applying.
Spain. This was my second trip abroad to study Spanish since starting
I had intended to apply to the local
my course in Modern and Medieval
university, to minimise disruption
Languages at Cambridge in 2009; the
to my family, however to maximise
year before that I spent two weeks
my chances of selection I browsed
at a language school in Salamanca at
through some websites and chanced
Easter.
upon Cambridge University. When I discovered that there was a College for mature women, it was as if a light came on. I visited Lucy Cavendish College and knew that it would provide the perfect environment in which I could achieve my academic and personal potential. It was like some sort of utopia. Everyone was so warm, approachable and skilled. In Barcelona I shared an apartment The grounds were beautiful, the
with three other foreign students,
facilities well-equipped and the sun
Sarah from Belgium, Kevin from France
always shone. In short, I think I fell
and Elena from Germany. They all
a little in love. When I received my
spoke good Spanish but we inevitably
letter of acceptance it was the only
ended up speaking English when eating
time in my life that I have ever cried
together in the evening. I attended
with happiness. Now I have been here
Spanish language classes every day
for two years and I would like to think
until just after lunch and then the rest
that I have taken full advantages of the
of the day was mine!
amazing resources that have been made available to me.