My name is Edward Dean, and I am a 19-year-old undergraduate in my first year of an international relations bachelor’s degree. Back in sixth form, when I was 17, I felt completely lost and aimless. I had no aspirations or goals to direct my energy toward, and I was convinced my A-levels would be useless. I felt like I had no reason to succeed or work hard for my exams.
This all changed during my second year of sixth form when I decided to attend an open mic spoken word event that my two best friends, Sami and Jacob, had invited me to. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the night, as I had not liked poetry in English class, but I left feeling oddly inspired and reinvigorated. When my friends asked if I would perform the following month, I took a leap of faith and decided to give it a try. I wrote a poem and performed it in front of a room full of strangers, discovering an artistic outlet for self-expression that I desperately needed at that age. This simple act changed the entire trajectory of my life.
This event coincided with my discovery of international relations as a potential degree. Sami had decided to change his UCAS application to international relations. I knew very little about the subject but had always been interested in politics. Understanding this, Sami suggested I explore the degree, especially since I had no definitive plans for my education beyond A-levels at that time. I found the subject intriguing, and it lingered in my mind throughout my second year of sixth form.
That second year of A-levels was transformative for me. I was improving my skills as a poet, becoming part of a community of creative public speakers who proudly expressed themselves. I grew more confident in public speaking and in addressing difficult personal issues through my art. Despite this newfound passion for creativity, my interest in politics remained strong. Witnessing intense political events worldwide during that year only strengthened this passion. My poetry evolved into an outlet for political expression, allowing me to articulate my feelings about important issues. Combining my interests led me back to that degree my friend had mentioned, and I decided to pursue it to further my political education.
I had to take a year off because I applied too late to attend university right after my A-levels. Nevertheless, I was proud to have secured a place at university, and during that year off, I worked hard to develop my passions and hobbies. I paid close attention to significant political events both domestically and globally. I improved my writing and public speaking skills by performing poems about personal and political issues that mattered to me; one of my proudest moments was performing at a fundraiser to support those suffering in Gaza.
All of this has shaped the student I am today as I embark on my higher education journey. I am proud to reach a point in my life where I have aspirations and goals, and I owe it all to my two best friends, Sami and Jacob, without whom I wouldn’t be here.
Eddie Dean