Levi’s story
Levi began his journey with IntoUniversity Clacton-on-Sea during Secondary school through our FOCUS programme. Now 23, he reflects on how that early support has shaped his path from student to mentor.
This interview highlights the journey of just one of the nearly 250,000 students who have been supported by IntoUniversity since 2002, from early academic support to university and beyond.
“[When] I went to Clacton Coastal Academy, there’d be like classroom sessions. We would get pulled out of different classes to go do an IntoUniversity workshop,” Levi recalls. “I think mainly it was early on explaining the opportunities for university because it was kind of like everybody says, oh yeah, you could go to university, but then you’re sort of like, what does that mean? What is a university like? […] So [it was] very eye opening.”
Though Levi always intended to go to university, IntoUniversity helped make those plans feel more tangible. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but it was very helpful. I was directed towards a website called ‘Whatuni’ [which] would help you find options and all of that. I remember going to different open days as well.”
Support from IntoUniversity also complemented the personal growth Levi was already working on. “I’d already been working on [improving my confidence] outside of IntoUniversity,” he says. “It was a big thing that I struggled with, and I would say [IntoUniversity] definitely provid[ed] experiences [to improve it] which helped reinforce what I was already building on.”
That early support has come full circle. Levi now mentors students through IntoUniversity, sharing the lessons he’s learned. “I think now that I mentor for IntoUniversity, [I’m able to] reinvest stuff that I’ve learned. […] I’d say I’m constantly still learning stuff.”
Mentoring has not only been meaningful but has also influenced Levi’s career goals. “Obviously all the staff are super dedicated and getting to work with students is good. [It has] impacted what I want to do in the future.”
In July 2023, Levi graduated with a degree in Criminology and Criminal Law from the University of Essex. “I’ve got my degree now, so I plan to go into a policing career. […] IntoUniversity SMART target setting really helped with [my goals].”
“I plan to stay in Essex. One of the biggest things [for me] is keeping things local. Like if you’re a police officer, it’s easier to connect with people from the area that you live in.”
Since studying at university, he’s mentored several students at our Clacton-on-Sea centre. “There was a [mentee] who was very introverted and didn’t like talking to others and so I gave him some conversational tips. […] It’s so rare to see, but you see [when students] have made the connection in their head and it’s like a snap.”
Reflecting on a recent celebration event, Levi says, “It’s amazing to see not only all these students that are supported, but also all the parents and carers and guardians that get behind it.”
“IntoUniversity doesn’t only provide academic support, they also provide guidance. […] It feels good to be a part of that. I feel like I’m making a little bit of a difference.”