Joanne Tells Students to Take Her Lead

Edge Hill University graduate Joanne McComb has gone back to school to encourage young people to follow in her footsteps.

Joanne, 23, is an Aimhigher Graduate Mentor and spends time in classrooms across the Wirral delivering motivational talks and guidance on how pupils can make the most of their academic talent.

And Joanne is certainly well qualified to offer such advice after making the step up to university from very humble beginnings.

"I?m originally from quite a deprived area of Birkenhead and was always told that university was 'never for the likes of me?," said Joanne, who graduated with a degree in English and Film Studies in 2005. "My mother passed away when I was 17, which meant I had to live with my Nan, and I was raised in an area where no-one had any real career aspirations, let alone studied in higher education.

"I was determined to break the mould though and ultimately, after completing my A-levels at Birkenhead Sixth Form, I visited Edge Hill?s Ormskirk campus on an open day and was so blown away by it all that I never looked back.

"I completely fell in love with everything about Edge Hill?s higher education experience ? from the fact that everything was on one campus to the friendly staff and sense of community. I was so impressed that I turned down an offer from a North West red brick university in order to study at Edge Hill."

Joanne?s role with Aimhigher ? a Government initiative designed to encourage those under represented in higher education to prepare for, and take up study opportunities at universities and colleges ? involves her spending time at Mosslands School, Park High, Rock Ferry High, Prenton High and Wirral Hospital School.

"A lot of the pupils have never really considered university as an option, however once you paint a picture in their head and tell them that it is possible they start to become interested," added Joanne, who eventually hopes to return to Edge Hill University to train to become an English teacher. "Of course, they?re particularly keen on the social side but in terms of getting on a course and eventually earning a degree it's a case of 'if I can do it, then so can you?."